89R3090 CXP-F     By: Cole H.B. No. 1105       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the exemption of tuition and laboratory fees at public   institutions of higher education for certain paramedics.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 54.3532 to read as follows:          Sec. 54.3532.  PARAMEDICS ENROLLED IN CERTAIN COURSES. (a)   The governing board of an institution of higher education shall   exempt from the payment of tuition and laboratory fees any student   enrolled in one or more courses offered as part of an emergency   medical services curriculum who is employed as a paramedic by a   political subdivision of this state.          (b)  An exemption provided under this section does not apply   to deposits that may be required in the nature of security for the   return or proper care of property loaned for the use of students.          (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a student who for a   semester or term at an institution of higher education receives an   exemption provided under this section may continue to receive the   exemption for a subsequent semester or term at any institution only   if the student makes satisfactory academic progress toward a degree   or certificate at that institution as determined by the institution   for purposes of financial aid.          (d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the exemption provided   under this section does not apply to any amount of additional   tuition the institution elects to charge a resident undergraduate   student under Section 54.014(a) or (f).          (e)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the exemption provided   under this section does not apply to any amount of tuition the   institution charges a graduate student in excess of the amount of   tuition charged to similarly situated graduate students because the   student has a number of semester credit hours of doctoral work in   excess of the applicable number provided by Section 61.059(l)(1) or   (2).          (f)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the governing board of   an institution of higher education is not required to provide an   exemption under this section for a course offered exclusively   through distance education to a number of students enrolled in the   course in excess of 20 percent of the maximum student enrollment   designated by the institution for that course.          (g)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall   adopt:                (1)  rules governing the granting or denial of an   exemption provided under this section, including rules:                      (A)  prescribing the educational attainment or   level of certification necessary to qualify for an exemption as a   paramedic;                      (B)  relating to the determination of a student's   eligibility for an exemption; and                      (C)  relating to the exclusion from the exemption   under Subsection (f) of a distance education course, including   prescribing the maximum number of distance education courses that   may be excluded from the exemption under that subsection; and                (2)  a uniform listing of degree programs covered by   the exemption provided under this section.          SECTION 2.  (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 54.3532, Education   Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the   effective date of this Act.          (b)  Section 54.3532, Education Code, as added by this Act,   applies beginning with tuition and laboratory fees charged for the   2025 fall semester. Tuition and laboratory 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.