Sec. 54.342.  PRISONERS OF WAR.  (a)  In this section, "tuition and required fees" includes tuition, service fees, lab fees, building use fees, and all other required fees except room, board, or clothing fees or deposits in the nature of security for the return or proper care of property.
(b)  For each semester or summer session and for a total number of semester credit hours not to exceed 120, the governing body of each institution of higher education shall exempt from the payment of tuition and required fees any person who:
(1)  is a resident of Texas and was a resident of Texas at the time of the person's original entry into the United States armed forces;
(2)  was first classified as a prisoner of war by the United States Department of Defense on or after January 1, 1999; and
(3)  is enrolled for at least 12 semester credit hours.
(c)  For each semester or session in which a person receives an exemption from tuition and required fees under Subsection (b), the governing body of the institution the person attends shall exempt the person from the payment of fees and charges for lodging and board if the person resides on the campus of the institution.  If the person does not reside on the campus of the institution, the institution shall provide to the person a reasonable stipend to cover the costs of the person's lodging and board.
(d)  For each semester or session in which a person receives an exemption from tuition and required fees under Subsection (b), the governing body of the institution the person attends shall award to the person a scholarship to cover the costs of books and similar educational materials required for course work at the institution.
(e)  An institution may use any available revenue, including legislative appropriations, and shall solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this section.  The institution shall use gifts, grants, and donations received for the purposes of this section before using any other revenue.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1590, Sec. 11(b), eff. June 19, 1999.
Redesignated from Education Code, Section 54.219 by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 359 (S.B. 32), Sec. 1, eff. January 1, 2012.