85R7573 KJE-D
 
  By: Holland H.B. No. 1590
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of
  higher education for certain military personnel dependents.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 54.341(a-2) and (b), Education Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a-2)  The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also
  apply to the spouse of:
               (1)  a member of the armed forces of the United States:
                     (A)  who was killed in action;
                     (B)  who died while in service;
                     (C)  who is missing in action;
                     (D)  whose death is documented to be directly
  caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed
  forces of the United States; or
                     (E)  who, as a result of a service-related injury:
                           (i)  became at least 80 percent disabled
  according to the disability ratings of the United States Department
  of Defense; or
                           (ii) became totally and permanently disabled
  or meets the eligibility requirements for individual
  unemployability according to the disability ratings of the
  Department of Veterans Affairs [as a result of a service-related
  injury]; or
               (2)  a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas
  Air National Guard who:
                     (A)  was killed since January 1, 1946, while on
  active duty either in the service of this state or the United
  States; or
                     (B)  as a result of a service-related injury
  suffered since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the
  service of this state or the United States:
                           (i)  is at least 80 percent disabled
  according to the disability ratings of the United States Department
  of Defense, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive
  disability benefits from the department; or
                           (ii) is totally and permanently disabled or
  meets the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability
  according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans
  Affairs, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive
  disability benefits from the department[, as a result of a
  service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on
  active duty either in the service of this state or the United
  States].
         (b)  The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also apply
  to:
               (1)  the children of members of the armed forces of the
  United States:
                     (A)  who are or were killed in action;
                     (B)  who die or died while in service;
                     (C)  who are missing in action;
                     (D)  whose death is documented to be directly
  caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed
  forces of the United States; or
                     (E)  who, as a result of a service-related injury:
                           (i)  became at least 80 percent disabled
  according to the disability ratings of the United States Department
  of Defense; or
                           (ii) became totally and permanently disabled
  or meet the eligibility requirements for individual
  unemployability according to the disability ratings of the
  Department of Veterans Affairs [as a result of a service-related
  injury]; and
               (2)  the children of members of the Texas National
  Guard and the Texas Air National Guard who:
                     (A)  were killed since January 1, 1946, while on
  active duty either in the service of their state or the United
  States; or
                     (B)  as a result of a service-related injury
  suffered since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the
  service of this state or the United States:
                           (i)  are at least 80 percent disabled
  according to the disability ratings of the United States Department
  of Defense, regardless of whether the members are eligible to
  receive disability benefits from the department; or
                           (ii) are totally and permanently disabled or
  meet the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability
  according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans
  Affairs, regardless of whether the members are eligible to receive
  disability benefits from the department[, as a result of a
  service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on
  active duty either in the service of this state or the United
  States].
         SECTION 2.  Section 54.341, Education Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies to an exemption from the payment of all or part of
  tuition or other fees beginning with tuition and fees charged for
  the 2018 fall semester.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.