bill widening tuition waivers for peace officers

The text as introduced · 307 words

89R10099 JTZ-D

By: Harless
H.B. No. 3008

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(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 a student enrolled in one or more courses offered as part of a

criminal justice or law enforcement curriculum [ 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;

(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 Section 54.3531(c), Education Code, is repealed.

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.