| (a) To receive an initial exemption under this program: (1) A paid firefighter must be employed by a political subdivision of the State of Texas. (2) A volunteer firefighter must: (A) currently, and for at least the past year, be an active member of an organized volunteer fire department in this state, as defined by the fire fighters' pension commissioner; and (B) hold one of the following credentials: (i) an Accredited Advanced level of certification, or an equivalent successor certification, under the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas volunteer certification program; or (ii) Phase V (Firefighter II) certification, or an equivalent successor certification, under the Texas Commission on Fire Protection's voluntary certification program under Texas Government Code, §419.071. (b) To receive an exemption in a subsequent semester the student must be in compliance with the institution's financial aid satisfactory academic progress requirements. This provision does not apply to a student who received an exemption under Texas Education Code, §54.208 before the 2009 fall semester as long as the student remains enrolled in the same degree or certificate program and is otherwise eligible to continue to receive the exemption under the statutory provisions that existed at that time. |
