Governor Rick Perry joined local Texas state legislators to sign two Texas Senate bills supporting Texas veterans and their family members. The ceremony took place July 31 on the University of Texas–San Antonio campus.
Surrounded by members of San Antonio military services and veterans groups, Perry signed Senate Bill 93 related to the Hazlewood Legacy Act that provides an exemption of tuition and fees, other than the deposit and student service fees for up to 150 semester credit hours to an eligible Texas veteran. Also excluded are any fees for books, lodging, board or clothing.
This legislation clarifies how the Texas veteran can establish his or her eligibility for Hazlewood Act benefits; it does not make distinctions between citizens and legal residents on educational benefits for veterans. Therefore, the bill aligns the state benefit with the GI Bill.
Additionally, the legislation allows a veteran to transfer unused Hazlewood Act benefits to his or her child. The legislation allows the spouse of a fallen veteran to utilize the unused benefit if the veteran was killed in action, missing in action, or totally disabled.
The second bill signed, Senate Bill 297, allows non-Texas veterans and their Families to immediately pay in-state tuition and fees at a public university or college without requiring that they wait the one year to establish Texas residency. Additionally, if a military parent is deployed to a combat theater, that parent’s children are exempt from paying resident tuition at a public institution of higher education while that parent is deployed.
