BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 133
87S30435 MM-D	By: Jetton (Huffman)
	Finance
	10/18/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

State law provides tuition benefits for surviving spouses and children of certain public servants. However, it has been noted that the law is limited to surviving children who are minors and that surviving children who may be college students over age 18 are ineligible for these benefits. H.B. 133 seeks to make changes to eligibility for education benefits to ensure Texas takes care of the families of first responders who give their lives in the line of duty.

H.B. 133 amends current law relating to education benefits at public institutions of higher education for certain survivors of public servants.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Authorizes this Act to be cited as Caleb Rule's Law.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.354(a), Education Code, as follows:�������

(a) Provides that a person is eligible to receive education benefits under Section 54.354 (Education Benefits for Certain Survivors), Education Code, if the person is one of the following eligible survivors of an individual listed under Section 615.003 (Applicability), Government Code:�������������

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision;�����������������

(2) a surviving child who:�����

(A) on the date of the listed individual's death is younger than 25 years of age; and

(B) if the child is not a biological or adopted child of the listed individual, was claimed as a dependent on the individual's federal income tax return for the year preceding the year of the individual's death.������������

Deletes existing text providing that among the persons eligible to receive education benefits under Section 54.354 is a surviving minor child as defined by Section 615.001 (Definition), Government Code.

SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective to the spring 2022 semester.�

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.