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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to higher education for veterans and their families. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 54.341(d), (h), (i), (k), and (n), |
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Education Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(d) The governing board of each institution of higher |
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education granting an exemption under this section shall require |
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each applicant claiming the exemption to submit to the institution, |
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in the form and manner prescribed by the Texas Veterans Commission |
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for purposes of this section under Section 434.0079(b), Government |
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Code, an application for the exemption and necessary [satisfactory] |
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evidence that the applicant qualifies for the exemption not later |
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than one year after the earlier of the date the institution: |
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(1) provides written notice to the applicant of the |
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applicant's eligibility for the exemption; or |
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(2) receives a written acknowledgement from the |
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applicant evidencing the applicant's awareness of the applicant's |
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eligibility for the exemption. |
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(h) The governing board of each institution of higher |
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education shall electronically report to the Texas Veterans |
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Commission [Higher Education Coordinating Board] the information |
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required by Section 434.00791, Government Code, [61.0516] relating |
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to each individual receiving an exemption from fees and charges |
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under Subsection (a), (a-2), or (b). The institution shall report |
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the information not later than December 31 of each year for the fall |
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semester, May 31 of each year for the spring semester, and September |
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30 of each year for the summer session. |
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(i) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt |
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rules for the administration of this section. The Texas Veterans |
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Commission may adopt rules to provide for the efficient and uniform |
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application of this section. |
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(k) The Texas Veterans Commission [Higher Education
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Coordinating Board] by rule shall prescribe procedures to allow: |
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(1) a person who becomes eligible for an exemption |
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provided by Subsection (a) to waive the person's right to any unused |
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portion of the maximum number of cumulative credit hours for which |
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the person could receive the exemption and assign the exemption for |
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the unused portion of those credit hours to a child of the person; |
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and |
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(2) following the death of a person who becomes |
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eligible for an exemption provided by Subsection (a), the |
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assignment of the exemption for the unused portion of the credit |
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hours to a child of the person, to be made by the person's spouse or |
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by the conservator, guardian, custodian, or other legally |
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designated caretaker of the child, if the child does not otherwise |
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qualify for an exemption under Subsection (b). |
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(n) The Texas Veterans Commission [Higher Education
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Coordinating Board] by rule shall prescribe procedures by which a |
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child who suffered from a severe illness or other debilitating |
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condition that affected the child's ability to use the exemption |
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before reaching the age described by Subsection (m) may be granted |
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additional time to use the exemption corresponding to the time the |
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child was unable to use the exemption because of the illness or |
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condition. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 434.0079 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.0079. DUTIES REGARDING CERTAIN TUITION AND FEE |
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EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. (a) The commission, |
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through its veteran education program, shall assist veterans and |
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their family members in claiming and qualifying for exemptions from |
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the payment of tuition and fees at institutions of higher education |
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under Section 54.341, Education Code. |
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(b) The commission shall establish the application and |
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necessary evidence requirements for a person to claim an exemption |
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under Section 54.341, Education Code, at an institution of higher |
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education. |
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(c) The commission shall mediate between a veteran or a |
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veteran's family member and an institution of higher education in |
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any issue regarding eligibility for an exemption under Section |
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54.341, Education Code. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.0516, Education Code, is transferred |
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to Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, redesignated as |
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Section 434.00791, Government Code, and amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.00791 [61.0516]. ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO MONITOR |
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TUITION EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS [DEPENDENTS]. |
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(a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(b) The commission [board] shall administer [develop] a |
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system to electronically monitor the use of tuition and fee |
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exemptions at institutions of higher education under Section |
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54.341, Education Code. The system must allow the commission |
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[board] to electronically receive, for each semester, the following |
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information from institutions of higher education: |
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(1) the name of the institution; |
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(2) the name, identification number, and date of birth |
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of each individual attending the institution and receiving benefits |
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for the semester under Section 54.341, Education Code; |
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(3) for each individual receiving benefits, the number |
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of credit hours for which the individual received an exemption for |
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the semester; |
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(4) for each individual receiving benefits at the |
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institution during the semester, the total cumulative number of |
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credit hours for which the individual has received an exemption at |
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the institution; and |
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(5) any other information required by the commission |
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[board]. |
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(c) Not later than January 1, 2014, the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board shall provide to the commission a |
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system developed by the coordinating board that meets the |
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requirements of this section. The coordinating board is |
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responsible for maintaining the system until the date of transfer. |
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This subsection expires September 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 4. Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapters F and G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. VETERAN EDUCATION EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION AWARD |
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NETWORK |
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Sec. 434.251. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "institution |
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of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, |
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Education Code. |
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Sec. 434.252. VETERAN EDUCATION EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION |
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AWARD NETWORK. (a) The commission by rule shall establish an award |
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program under which institutions of higher education may receive |
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recognition from the commission for excellence in providing |
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education and related services to veterans. |
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(b) For purposes of receiving an award under Subsection (a), |
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the commission shall evaluate an institution of higher education |
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regarding, as applicable, the existence and quality at the |
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institution of: |
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(1) an advisory board of students who are veterans to |
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advise the institution's governing board on issues affecting the |
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institution's students who are veterans; |
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(2) a centralized place for students who are veterans |
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to meet or find assistance and information; |
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(3) an institution employee who serves as a central |
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point of contact for students who are veterans; |
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(4) a United States Department of Veterans Affairs |
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work-study program; |
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(5) admissions and enrollment policies specifically |
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designed for veterans; |
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(6) new student orientation and courses specifically |
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designed for veterans; |
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(7) a student organization for veterans; |
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(8) academic support services specifically for |
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students who are veterans; |
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(9) mental health and disability services; |
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(10) a housing policy that applies specifically to |
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veterans; |
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(11) faculty and staff training on issues affecting |
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students who are veterans; |
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(12) career services specifically designed for |
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students who are veterans; and |
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(13) any other criteria considered necessary or |
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appropriate by the commission. |
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(c) The commission by rule shall establish a process for the |
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commission to use in evaluating an institution of higher education |
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on the basis of the criteria under Subsection (b). The commission |
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may charge a reasonable fee to an institution for the commission's |
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evaluation. |
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Sec. 434.253. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The commission may |
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adopt rules as necessary to administer this subchapter. |
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SUBCHAPTER G. REGIONAL VETERANS EDUCATION COUNSELORS PROGRAM |
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Sec. 434.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Veterans Commission. |
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(2) "Higher education regions" means the higher |
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education regions in this state established by the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board as specified under Section 434.304. |
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(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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Sec. 434.302. REGIONAL VETERANS EDUCATION COUNSELORS. The |
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commission shall employ regional veterans education counselors. A |
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regional veterans education counselor shall: |
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(1) visit the institutions of higher education located |
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in each higher education region served by the veterans education |
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counselor; |
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(2) work with those institutions of higher education |
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to: |
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(A) create a hospitable and supportive |
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environment for veterans; |
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(B) enhance awareness of and encourage |
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participation in veterans educational programs and commission |
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programs providing other services to veterans, including |
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employment and claims assistance services; |
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(C) develop programs providing ancillary |
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assistance to veterans based on the unique needs of veterans and |
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their family members; |
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(D) ensure that veterans successfully complete |
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their education; and |
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(E) promote the establishment of a student |
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veterans group on each campus in the higher education region; |
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(3) work with local, state, and national veterans |
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groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American |
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Legion, to promote educational opportunities and benefits to the |
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veteran population in the higher education region; |
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(4) work with local workforce development boards to: |
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(A) ensure that the regional veterans education |
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counselors are aware of available nontraditional educational |
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opportunities, including on-the-job training programs and |
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apprenticeships; and |
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(B) advise employers in the higher education |
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region of potential opportunities to create on-the-job training |
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programs for veterans; |
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(5) work with education services officers at military |
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installations to encourage active duty members of the armed forces |
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of the United States and veterans to use federal and state |
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educational benefits; |
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(6) create and manage publicity campaigns in concert |
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with the commission and institutions of higher education in the |
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higher education region to promote the use of education benefits |
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under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of |
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2008 (38 U.S.C. Section 3301 et seq.), the tuition exemption |
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program for veterans and their family members under Section 54.341, |
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Education Code, and any other education benefit for veterans or |
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their family members under federal or state law; |
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(7) support programs to assist students who are combat |
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veterans in readjusting and reintegrating into a noncombat |
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environment; |
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(8) maintain statistical information regarding |
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demographics of veterans assisted, application success, program |
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completion rates, dropout rates, and reasons for success or |
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failure, as appropriate; and |
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(9) perform other activities, as assigned by the |
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commission, to enhance the educational opportunities of veterans |
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and their family members in the higher education region and |
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throughout this state. |
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Sec. 434.303. PROGRAM MANAGER. The commission shall employ |
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a program manager to administer the regional veterans education |
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counselors program. The program manager shall: |
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(1) provide leadership, training, support, and |
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overall management of the regional veterans education counselors; |
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(2) using data provided by the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board, produce an annual report on veterans' |
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attendance at institutions of higher education; and |
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(3) perform any other task required by the commission. |
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Sec. 434.304. ASSIGNMENT OF REGIONAL VETERANS EDUCATION |
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COUNSELORS. The commission shall assign regional veterans |
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education counselors throughout this state with at least one |
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counselor assigned responsibility for serving not more than two of |
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the following higher education regions: |
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(1) High Plains Region; |
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(2) Northwest Texas Region; |
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(3) Metroplex Region; |
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(4) Upper East Texas Region; |
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(5) Southeast Texas Region; |
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(6) Gulf Coast Region; |
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(7) Central Texas Region; |
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(8) South Texas Region; |
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(9) West Texas Region; and |
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(10) Upper Rio Grande Region. |
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Sec. 434.305. DUTIES OF INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. |
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Each institution of higher education shall support the work of |
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regional veterans education counselors as provided by this |
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subchapter, including providing access to veteran resource centers |
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or other student meeting areas and providing information, as |
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permitted by law, related to veterans at the institution. |
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Sec. 434.306. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The commission may |
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adopt rules to implement this subchapter. |
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SECTION 5. Section 9.01(b)(4), Chapter 1049 (S.B. 5), Acts |
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of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, which would repeal |
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Section 54.203(h), Education Code, effective September 1, 2013, is |
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repealed and does not take effect, and Section 54.341(h), Education |
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Code, which was redesignated from Section 54.203(h), Education |
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Code, by Chapter 359 (S.B. 32), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2011, remains in effect as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act to Section |
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54.341, Education Code, apply beginning with tuition and fees for |
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the 2014 fall semester. Tuition and fees for a term or semester |
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before the 2014 fall semester are covered by the law in effect |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 7. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Veterans Commission shall employ the |
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regional veterans education counselors and a program manager as |
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required by Subchapter G, Chapter 434, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |