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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to exemptions for disabled peace officers and fire |
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fighters from payment of tuition and fees at public institutions of |
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higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 54.352, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.352. DISABLED PEACE OFFICERS AND FIRE FIGHTERS [;
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OPTIONAL EXEMPTION]. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 54.352(a) and (h), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The governing board of an institution of higher |
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education shall [may] exempt a student from the payment of tuition |
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and [required] fees [authorized by this chapter] for a course for |
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which space is available if the student: |
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(1) is a resident of this state and has resided in this |
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state for the 12 months immediately preceding the beginning of the |
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semester or session for which an exemption is sought; |
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(2) is permanently disabled as a result of an injury |
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suffered during the performance of a duty as: |
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(A) a peace officer of this state or a political |
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subdivision of this state; or |
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(B) a fire fighter, as defined by Section |
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614.001, Government Code, employed by this state or a political |
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subdivision of this state; and |
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(3) is unable to continue employment as a peace |
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officer or fire fighter because of the disability. |
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(h) For the purpose of this section, a peace officer or a |
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fire fighter is considered permanently disabled only if the chief |
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administrative officer of the law enforcement agency, fire |
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department, or other entity that employed the officer or fire |
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fighter at the time of the injury determines the officer or fire |
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fighter is permanently disabled and satisfies any requirement of an |
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institution under Subsection (e). |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to an |
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exemption from tuition and fees beginning with the 2017 fall |
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semester. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |