free tuition for kids of 15-year peace officers

The text as introduced · 385 words

By: Louderback
H.B. No. 2185

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a tuition exemption for the children of certain law

enforcement officers.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 54.3511 to read as follows:

Sec. 54.3511. CHILDREN OF CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

(a) In this section:

(1) "Eligible law enforcement officer" means a peace

officer defined by Article Art. 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure,

who has at least 15 years of continuous service as a peace officer

in a public retirement system.

(2) "Public retirement system" has the meaning

assigned by Section 801.001, Government Code.

(3) "Child" is a person whose parent is an eligible law

enforcement officer, including a stepchild or adopted child.

(b) The governing board of each institution of higher

education shall exempt from the payment of all tuition, fees, and

charges any child whose parent is an eligible law enforcement

officer. The exemption does not apply to general deposits or to

fees or charges for lodging, board, or clothing.

(c) A child is not entitled to the exemption if the child:

(1) does not apply initially for the exemption before

the date the child:

(A) becomes 21 years of age, if the person is not

covered by Paragraph (B); or

(B) becomes 22 years of age, if the person is

eligible to participate in a school district's special education

program under Section 29.003;

(2) does not meet all entrance requirements of the

institution; or

(3) does not maintain a scholastic average sufficient

to remain in good standing.

(d) Subject to Subsection (e), a child may receive an

exemption only for the first 120 undergraduate semester credit

hours for which the person registers.

(e) A child is not entitled to an exemption for any term or

semester the child begins after the date the child becomes 26 years

of age.

(f) A child entitled to an exemption under the provisions of

this section shall, when transferring from a public junior college

to a public senior college or university, meet the standard

entrance requirements required by the senior college or university

of an applicant for admission not covered by the provisions of this

section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.