85R7573 KJE-D     By: Holland H.B. No. 1590       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of   higher education for certain military personnel dependents.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 54.341(a-2) and (b), Education Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (a-2)  The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also   apply to the spouse of:                (1)  a member of the armed forces of the United States:                      (A)  who was killed in action;                      (B)  who died while in service;                      (C)  who is missing in action;                      (D)  whose death is documented to be directly   caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed   forces of the United States; or                      (E)  who, as a result of a service-related injury:                            (i)  became at least 80 percent disabled   according to the disability ratings of the United States Department   of Defense; or                            (ii) became totally and permanently disabled   or meets the eligibility requirements for individual   unemployability according to the disability ratings of the   Department of Veterans Affairs [as a result of a service-related   injury]; or                (2)  a member of the Texas National Guard or the Texas   Air National Guard who:                      (A)  was killed since January 1, 1946, while on   active duty either in the service of this state or the United   States; or                      (B)  as a result of a service-related injury   suffered since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the   service of this state or the United States:                            (i)  is at least 80 percent disabled   according to the disability ratings of the United States Department   of Defense, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive   disability benefits from the department; or                            (ii) is totally and permanently disabled or   meets the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability   according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans   Affairs, regardless of whether the member is eligible to receive   disability benefits from the department[, as a result of a   service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on   active duty either in the service of this state or the United   States].          (b)  The exemptions provided for in Subsection (a) also apply   to:                (1)  the children of members of the armed forces of the   United States:                      (A)  who are or were killed in action;                      (B)  who die or died while in service;                      (C)  who are missing in action;                      (D)  whose death is documented to be directly   caused by illness or injury connected with service in the armed   forces of the United States; or                      (E)  who, as a result of a service-related injury:                            (i)  became at least 80 percent disabled   according to the disability ratings of the United States Department   of Defense; or                            (ii) became totally and permanently disabled   or meet the eligibility requirements for individual   unemployability according to the disability ratings of the   Department of Veterans Affairs [as a result of a service-related   injury]; and                (2)  the children of members of the Texas National   Guard and the Texas Air National Guard who:                      (A)  were killed since January 1, 1946, while on   active duty either in the service of their state or the United   States; or                      (B)  as a result of a service-related injury   suffered since January 1, 1946, while on active duty either in the   service of this state or the United States:                            (i)  are at least 80 percent disabled   according to the disability ratings of the United States Department   of Defense, regardless of whether the members are eligible to   receive disability benefits from the department; or                            (ii) are totally and permanently disabled or   meet the eligibility requirements for individual unemployability   according to the disability ratings of the Department of Veterans   Affairs, regardless of whether the members are eligible to receive   disability benefits from the department[, as a result of a   service-related injury suffered since January 1, 1946, while on   active duty either in the service of this state or the United   States].          SECTION 2.  Section 54.341, Education Code, as amended by   this Act, applies to an exemption from the payment of all or part of   tuition or other fees beginning with tuition and fees charged for   the 2018 fall semester.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.