Bill Text: TX HB2557 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to collection and reporting of certain information regarding tuition and fee exemptions granted by institutions of higher education to veterans and their family members.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-29 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB2557 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB2557-Comm_Sub.html
86R20058 MM-D | |||
By: Schaefer | H.B. No. 2557 | ||
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2557: | |||
By: Schaefer | C.S.H.B. No. 2557 |
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relating to collection and reporting of certain information | ||
regarding tuition and fee exemptions granted by institutions of | ||
higher education to veterans and their family members. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Sections 54.341(h) and (o), Education Code, are | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(h) The governing board of each institution of higher | ||
education shall electronically report to the Texas Veterans | ||
Commission the information required by Section 434.00791, | ||
Government Code, and to the Legislative Budget Board the | ||
information required by Section 322.025, Government Code, relating | ||
to each individual receiving an exemption from fees and charges | ||
under Subsection (a), (a-2), (b), or (k). The institution shall | ||
report the information not later than January 31 of each year for | ||
the fall semester, June 30 of each year for the spring semester, and | ||
September 30 of each year for the summer session. | ||
(o) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the | ||
Legislative Budget Board, and the Texas Veterans Commission shall | ||
coordinate to provide each respective agency with any information | ||
required to ensure the proper administration of this section and | ||
the proper execution of each agency's statutory responsibilities | ||
concerning this section. | ||
SECTION 2. Chapter 322, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Section 322.025 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 322.025. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORT REGARDING TUITION | ||
AND FEE EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. (a) In this | ||
section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned | ||
by Section 61.003, Education Code. | ||
(b) Using existing resources, the board shall collect from | ||
each institution of higher education, for each semester, the | ||
following information regarding tuition and fee exemptions granted | ||
by the institution under Section 54.341, Education Code: | ||
(1) the age of each individual attending the | ||
institution and receiving benefits for the semester; | ||
(2) for each individual receiving benefits, the number | ||
of credit hours for which the individual received an exemption for | ||
the semester; | ||
(3) for each individual receiving benefits at the | ||
institution during the semester, the total cumulative number of | ||
credit hours for which the individual has received an exemption at | ||
the institution; | ||
(4) for each individual receiving benefits, whether | ||
the person is a veteran or the family member of a veteran; | ||
(5) in a manner that does not identify the person | ||
receiving benefits and as indicated by official documentation from | ||
the United States Department of Defense, for a veteran who is | ||
eligible for benefits or whose service allows another person to be | ||
eligible for benefits: | ||
(A) whether the veteran served as an active duty | ||
member or a member of a reserve component of the armed forces; and | ||
(B) the veteran's length of service; and | ||
(6) any other information required by the board. | ||
(c) Not later than November 1 of each year, the board shall | ||
submit to the legislature a report regarding the data collected by | ||
the board under Subsection (b) for the most recent academic year. | ||
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply | ||
beginning with tuition and fee exemptions granted under Section | ||
54.341, Education Code, for the 2019 fall semester. | ||
SECTION 4. Not later than November 1, 2020, the Legislative | ||
Budget Board shall submit its initial report required under Section | ||
322.025, Government Code, as added by this Act. | ||
SECTION 5. 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, 2019. |