Peace Officer Exemption Program
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What statute authorizes this program?
Texas Education Code 54.208, as amended by House Bill 2347, passed in 2009,
authorized the Peace Officer Exemption program.
2. When does this program begin?
The program begins with tuition and fees paid for fall 2011.
3. Who is eligible to for the Peace Officer tuition and laboratory fee exemption?
A person who:
 Is employed as a Peace Officer by Texas or by a political subdivision of Texas; and
 Enrolls as an undergraduate in an undergraduate program, including certificate, associate and
baccalaureate degrees; and
 Enrolls in a criminal justice or law enforcement-related degree program at the institution; and
 Is making satisfactory academic progress toward the student's degree as determined by the
institution’s financial aid policy; and
 Applied for the exemption at least one week before the last date of the institution's regular
registration period for the applicable semester or other term; and
 Has not previously attempted 30 or more semester credit hours beyond the degree plan at any
Texas public institution of higher education while classified as a resident student. (TEC Section
61.0595 (a)).
4. What is the definition of a Peace Officer?
The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 2.12 defines all 36 groups considered to be peace
officers. Here is a link: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CR/htm/CR.2.htm#2.12
5. Must the Peace Officer be employed full-time?
No. Legislation only states that the person must be employed as a Peace Officer in Texas or by a
political subdivision of Texas. It does not specify full-time employment; therefore, part-time
employment is allowable.
6. Are volunteer Peace Officers included in the exemption?
No. Peace Officers must be employed by either Texas or a subdivision of Texas.
7. What courses are exempt from tuition and fees?
Only courses in law enforcement or criminal justice are covered by this exemption program.
8. Are all fees exempted?
No. Only laboratory fees are included in this exemption.
9. If a certificate or degree program in law enforcement or criminal justice requires students to take
other courses such as English, math, or government, will these courses be included in the exemption?
No. The exemption program only covers courses in law enforcement or criminal justice even if
other courses are required for the degree or certification.
10. Are continuing education or extension courses covered?
Generally, no. Only courses that receive formula funding are covered. If the college receives
formula funding for the continuing education or extension courses, then these would be
covered.
11. Are distance education courses covered?
Yes. Since these courses receive formula funding and collect tuition and fees, they are subject
to the tuition exemption.
12. Are students in graduate school eligible for this exemption program?
No. This exemption is only for those in law enforcement related or criminal justice
undergraduate certificate or degree programs.
13. Is there list of law enforcement related or criminal justice certificate and degree programs?
Each institution of higher education submitted a list of the programs they offer which they
identified as being law enforcement related or criminal justice certificate or degree programs.
These are provided as a link on the Peace Officer Exemption information sheet under eligibility
requirements: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/financialaid/tofa2.cfm?ID=589. If
your college offers a law enforcement related or criminal justice program and it is not on the list,
please have the college contact us at [email protected].
14. Is there a list of eligible courses?
No. Each institution determines which courses in law enforcement and criminal justice qualify
for this exemption.
15. Is there a deadline by which a student must request the tuition and fee exemption?
The Peace Officer must apply for the exemption at least one week before the last day of
the institution's regular registration period for that semester.
16. Is there are limit to the number of students receiving the tuition and fee exemption?
Yes. The institution may not provide exemptions through the Peace Officer exemption program
to more than 20% of the maximum enrollment for that class. (TEC 54.208 (d)).
17. If a student exceeds the number of semester credit hours for his or her program of study by 30 or
more hours, will this exemption cover the increased tuition that the institution charges? (TEC
61.059)
No. A Peace Officer may not receive an exemption for any course if the student has
reached the maximum number of hours allowed for formula funding (30 hours beyond
the degree requirement).
18. Will the institution be reimbursed for the tuition and fees not collected?
No. However, the legislation has included a clause addressing funding issues: TEC 54.208
(g) – “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 of higher education 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.”