87R8537 CXP-D     By: Beckley H.B. No. 1898       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the exemption of tuition and laboratory fees at public   institutions of higher education for certain emergency operators or   dispatchers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 54.3533 to read as follows:          Sec. 54.3533.  EMERGENCY OPERATORS OR DISPATCHERS ENROLLED   IN CERTAIN COURSES. (a) The governing board of an institution of   higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and   laboratory fees charged by the institution for courses relating to   emergency telecommunications, criminal justice, or emergency   medical services an undergraduate student who:                (1)  is employed as an emergency response operator or   emergency services dispatcher by this state or by a political   subdivision of this state;                (2)  is enrolled in a certificate or degree program   relating to emergency telecommunications, criminal justice, or   emergency medical services at the institution;                (3)  is making satisfactory academic progress toward   the student's certificate or 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.          (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a student may not   receive an exemption under this section for any course if the   student has previously attempted a number of semester credit hours   for courses taken at any institution of higher education while   classified as a resident student for tuition purposes in excess of   the maximum number of those hours specified by Section 61.0595(a)   as eligible for funding under the formulas established under   Section 61.059.          (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the governing board of   an institution of higher education may not provide exemptions under   this section to students enrolled in a specific class in a number   that exceeds 20 percent of the maximum student enrollment   designated by the institution for that class.          (d)  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.          (e)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall   adopt:                (1)  rules governing the granting or denial of an   exemption under this section, including rules relating to the   determination of a student's eligibility for an exemption; and                (2)  a uniform listing of certificate and degree   programs covered by the exemption under this section.          (f)  If the legislature does not specifically appropriate   funds to an institution of higher education in an amount sufficient   to pay the institution's costs in complying with this section for a   semester or other term, the governing board of the institution   shall report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House   Appropriations Committee the cost to the institution of complying   with this section for that semester or other term.          SECTION 2.  (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board shall adopt the rules required by Section 54.3533, Education   Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the   effective date of this Act.          (b)  Section 54.3533, Education Code, as added by this Act,   applies beginning with tuition and laboratory fees charged for the   2021 fall semester. Tuition and laboratory fees charged for an   academic period before that semester are covered 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, 2021.