1. (a) Authority. Authority for this section is provided in the Texas Education Code, §54.3531.
2. (b) Definitions. In addition to the words and terms defined in §13.460 of this subchapter (relating to Definitions), in this section, the term "undergraduate student" means a person who has not previously been awarded a baccalaureate degree.
3. (c) Participating Institutions. An institution of higher education, as defined in §13.1 of this chapter (relating to Definitions) shall provide an exemption to an eligible student for tuition and laboratory fees associated with eligible courses in accordance with this section. The exemption does not apply to security deposits for the return or proper care of property loaned to the student.

4. (d) Eligible Student. To be eligible for an exemption under this section, a student must:

   1. (1) be an undergraduate student enrolled in an eligible criminal justice or law enforcement-related degree or certificate program;
   2. (2) be employed as a peace officer, as defined in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, §2A.001, by this state or by a political subdivision of this state;
   3. (3) apply for the exemption at least one week before the last day of the institution's regular registration period for that semester;
   4. (4) meet applicable standards outlined in §22.3 of this title (relating to Student Compliance with Selective Service Registration); and
   5. (5) meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements described by §13.463 of this subchapter (relating to Satisfactory Academic Progress) unless granted a hardship waiver by the institution in accordance with §13.464 of this subchapter (relating to Hardship Provisions).
5. (e) Eligible Degree or Certificate Programs. Each institution of higher education shall identify criminal justice or law enforcement-related degree or certificate programs offered by the institution and submit a list of the identified programs to the Coordinating Board. The Coordinating Board shall compile and publish a list of all institutions' identified programs on its website.

6. (f) Eligible Courses.

   1. (1) An exemption provided under this section applies only to courses pertaining to criminal justice or law enforcement-related degree or certificate programs published by the Coordinating Board in accordance with subsection (e) of this section.
   2. (2) An institution shall not apply an exemption to courses that make up the general education core curriculum required for all degrees unless such courses are identified by the institution as being part of the criminal justice or law enforcement curriculum.
   3. (3) For a given eligible course, not more than 20 percent of the maximum student enrollment designated by the institution may receive an exemption under this section.
7. (g) Report to Legislature. If the Legislature does not specifically appropriate funds to an institution of higher education in an amount sufficient to pay the institution's costs in complying with this section for a semester, the governing board of the institution shall report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee the cost to the institution of complying with this section for that semester.

Source Note:The provisions of this §13.468 adopted to be effective November 13, 2025, 50 TexReg 7253.