The bill, H.B. No. 3008, proposes amendments to the Education Code regarding tuition and fee exemptions for certain peace officers attending public institutions of higher education. Specifically, it stipulates that the governing board of an institution must exempt from tuition and laboratory fees any student enrolled in courses that are part of a criminal justice or law enforcement curriculum, provided they meet certain criteria. These criteria include being employed as a peace officer, being enrolled in a related degree program, making satisfactory academic progress, and applying for the exemption within a specified timeframe.

Additionally, the bill repeals Section 54.3531(c) of the Education Code, which may have contained previous provisions related to these exemptions. The changes outlined in the bill will take effect starting with the tuition and fees charged for the fall semester of 2025, while any fees charged prior to that will continue to be governed by the existing law. The bill will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.3531 (Education Code 54)