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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of |
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higher education for certain peace officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.3531, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsection (a-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The governing board of an institution of higher |
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education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory |
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fees charged by the institution for a [criminal justice or law |
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enforcement] course or courses a [an undergraduate] student who: |
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(1) is employed as a peace officer by this state or by |
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a political subdivision of this state; |
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(2) is enrolled in a [criminal justice or] law |
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enforcement-related degree program at the institution; |
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(3) is making satisfactory academic progress toward |
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the student's degree as determined by the institution; and |
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(4) applies for the exemption at least one week before |
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the last date of the institution's regular registration period for |
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the applicable semester or other term. |
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(a-1) The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, in |
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consultation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, |
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shall adopt rules specifying which degree programs are law |
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enforcement-related for purposes of Subsection (a)(2). |
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(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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adopt[: |
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[(1)] rules governing the granting or denial of an |
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exemption under this section, including rules relating to the |
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determination of a student's eligibility for an exemption[; and |
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[(2) a uniform listing of degree programs covered by the |
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exemption under this section]. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the |
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rules required by Section 54.3531(a-1), Education Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 54.3531, Education Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies beginning with tuition and other fees charged for |
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the 2025 fall semester. Tuition and other fees charged for an |
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academic period before that semester are governed by the law in |
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effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |