House Bill No. 5063 aims to provide tuition and fee exemptions for former foster children with intellectual disabilities who wish to attend comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs at public institutions of higher education in Texas. The bill amends the Education Code, specifically Section 54.2002, to clarify that exemptions or waivers from tuition and fees apply only to state-funded courses, with specific exceptions for students enrolled in comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs as outlined in Sections 54.366(a-1) and 54.367(a-1).

Additionally, the bill introduces new subsections (a-1) to Sections 54.366 and 54.367, which explicitly state that students with intellectual disabilities, as defined by federal law, are exempt from tuition and fees for these comprehensive programs. The changes will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, and 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 54.2002, Education Code 54.366, Education Code 54.367 (Education Code 54)