By: Campbell  S.B. No. 2317
         (In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2019; March 21, 2019, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs & Border
  Security; April 9, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 9, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the liability for unpaid tuition and fees at a public
  institution of higher education due to a misclassification of
  certain military personnel and their dependents.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 54.3412 to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.3412.  LIABILITY FOR UNPAID TUITION AND REQUIRED
  FEES DUE TO MISCLASSIFICATION AS TEXAS VETERAN, SPOUSE, OR
  DEPENDENT.  (a)  An institution of higher education may elect to
  collect all or part of any tuition, fees, or other required charges
  for which a person was granted an exemption under Section 54.341 if
  the person did not qualify for that exemption.  The person is liable
  for the amount of tuition, fees, and other required charges the
  person would have paid to the institution without the exemption.
         (b)  The person shall pay the applicable amount to the
  institution of higher education not later than the 30th day after
  the date the person is notified of the person's liability for the
  amount owed.  After receiving the notice and until the amount is
  paid in full, the person is not entitled to receive from the
  institution a certificate or diploma, if not yet awarded on the date
  of the notice, or official transcript that is based at least
  partially on or includes credit for courses taken while the person
  was erroneously granted an exemption under Section 54.341.
         (c)  The Texas Veterans Commission periodically shall audit
  applications submitted by persons seeking an exemption from
  tuition, fees, and other required charges under Section 54.341 to
  verify qualifications for the exemptions under that section.  The
  commission shall ensure an audit under this subsection is conducted
  in compliance with federal law regarding confidentiality of student
  medical or educational information, including the Health Insurance
  Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d
  et seq.) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
  (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy
  of student information.  The commission shall report the findings
  of its audits to the applicable institutions of higher education.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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