HBA-MPM H.B. 3004 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3004
By: Bailey
Higher Education
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the governing board of an institution of higher education may
waive tuition and other fees for a peace officer who becomes permanently
disabled in the line of duty.  However, no such provision exists for fire
fighters.  House Bill 3004 authorizes governing boards to make this
exemption available to fire fighters who have been permanently disabled in
the line of duty. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3004 amends the Education Code to authorize the governing board
of an institution of higher education to exempt a person who is disabled in
the line of fire protection duty in this state, including a parttime
employee or volunteer or auxiliary fire fighter, from the payment of
tuition and required fees for enrollment as an undergraduate at a course at
an institution of higher education.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with tuition and
required fees imposed for the fall 2002 semester.