The bill, S.B. No. 166, proposes amendments to the Education Code regarding tuition and fee exemptions for students who were under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services. It specifies that students are exempt from tuition and fees if they were under conservatorship on the day before their 18th birthday, on or after their 14th birthday if eligible for adoption, on the day they graduated high school, or during an academic term in which they were enrolled in a dual credit course. The bill also introduces new criteria for exemption, including provisions for students who exit conservatorship and return to their parents, allowing for potential eligibility under department rules.

The changes will take effect starting with the tuition and fees charged for the fall semester of 2025, while any charges prior to that will be governed by the existing law. The bill requires a two-thirds majority vote for immediate effect; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.366 (Education Code 54)