88R3671 JTZ-D
 
  By: Goodwin H.B. No. 742
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of
  higher education for certain county jailers and law enforcement
  telecommunicators.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 54.3531(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The governing board of an institution of higher
  education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory
  fees charged by the institution for a criminal justice or law
  enforcement course or courses an undergraduate student who:
               (1)  is employed [as a peace officer] by this state or
  by a political subdivision of this state as:
                     (A)  a peace officer;
                     (B)  a county jail guard under Section 85.005,
  Local Government Code; or
                     (C)  a telecommunicator required to hold a
  telecommunicator license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations
  Code;
               (2)  is enrolled in a criminal justice or law
  enforcement-related degree program at the institution;
               (3)  is making satisfactory academic progress toward
  the student's degree as determined by the institution; and
               (4)  applies for the exemption at least one week before
  the last date of the institution's regular registration period for
  the applicable semester or other term.
         SECTION 2.  Section 54.3531, Education Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged for
  the 2023 fall semester.  Tuition and other fees charged for an
  academic period before that semester are governed by the law in
  effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.