bill widening the tuition exemption for peace officers

The text as introduced · 416 words

89R3955 JTZ-D

By: Dean
H.B. No. 1925

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of

higher education for certain peace officers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 54.3531, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsection (a-1) 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 a [ an undergraduate ] student who:

(1) is employed as a peace officer by this state or by

a political subdivision of this state;

(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.

(a-1) The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, in

consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,

shall adopt rules specifying which degree programs are law

enforcement-related for purposes of Subsection (a)(2).

(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall

adopt[ :

[ (1) ] rules governing the granting or denial of an

exemption under this section, including rules relating to the

determination of a student's eligibility for an exemption[ ; and

[ (2) a uniform listing of degree programs covered by the

exemption under this section ].

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the

rules required by Section 54.3531(a-1), Education Code, as added by

this Act.

SECTION 3. Section 54.3531, Education Code, as amended by

this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged for

the 2025 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 4. 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, 2025.