89R25700 JTZ-D     By: Alders, Dean, Harless, et al. H.B. No. 1527     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1527:     By:  Wilson C.S.H.B. No. 1527       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 Subsection (a) 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 a student enrolled in one or more courses offered as part of a   law enforcement-related degree program [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)  holds a basic peace officer proficiency   certificate issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under   Section 1701.402, Occupations Code; and                (5)  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)  For purposes of Subsection (a), a law   enforcement-related degree program includes a program in:                (1)  criminal justice;                (2)  public administration and public affairs;                (3)  emergency management;                (4)  youth and community studies;                (5)  law;                (6)  Spanish or any other foreign language commonly   spoken in this state;                (7)  accounting, including forensic accounting;                (8)  psychology;                (9)  social work, including clinical social work;                (10)  nursing;                (11)  chemistry;                (12)  biology;                (13)  forensic science; or                (14)  computer science, data science, and   cybersecurity.          SECTION 2.  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 3.  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.