HBA-LJP H.B. 459 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 459 By: Carter Higher Education 7/3/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, children of deceased or disabled police officers or volunteer firefighters were eligible receive an exemption from tuition and fees at public institutions of higher education, but prior to the 77th Legislature these children were only eligible for exemption for eight consecutive semesters, not including summer sessions. House Bill 459 changes this amount to 120 hours and makes other modifications to give students more flexibility in accessing the exemptions. 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 459 amends the Education Code to provide that a person eligible for an exemption from tuition and fees as a child of a disabled firefighter or peace officer may only receive the exemption for the first 120 hours of undergraduate credit hours for which the person registers, rather than eight consecutive semesters and excluding summer semesters. The person is not entitled to the exemption if the person does not apply for the exemption before the date the person becomes 21 years of age, or 22 years of age if the person is eligible to participate in a school district's special education program. An eligible person is not entitled to the exemption for a semester or term that begins on or after the date the person becomes 26 years of age. EFFECTIVE DATE June 11, 2001. The Act applies beginning with the fall semester 2001.