BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1117

By: Wray

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the U.S. Marine Corps commissions many of its officers through the Platoon Leadership Class (PLC), a program which operates similarly to Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs. H.B. 1117 seeks to make PLCs equivalent to ROTC programs with regard to the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1117 amends the Education Code to give a student enrolled in a public or private institution of higher education in Texas who otherwise meets the applicable criteria for receipt of an initial Texas Armed Services Scholarship the option, for purposes of qualifying for initial receipt of such a scholarship, to enroll in or be a member in good standing of an undergraduate officer commissioning program such as the U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class while enrolled in that institution as an alternative to being enrolled in and being a member in good standing of a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program while enrolled in that institution.

H.B. 1117 applies beginning with a Texas Armed Services Scholarship awarded for the
2017-2018 academic year. The bill requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules for the administration of the bill's provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.