S.B. No. 846 AN ACT 1-1 relating to the participation by institutions of higher education 1-2 in the national student exchange program. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Section 51.929 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 51.929. NATIONAL STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM. (a) In 1-7 this section: 1-8 (1) "General academic teaching institution" has the 1-9 meaning assigned by Section 61.003 of this code. 1-10 (2) "National student exchange program" means the 1-11 program administered by the National Student Exchange, a nonprofit 1-12 corporation. 1-13 (b) General academic teaching institutions may participate 1-14 in the national student exchange program for the purpose of 1-15 providing reciprocal educational opportunities for undergraduate 1-16 students of colleges and universities in the United States. 1-17 (c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt 1-18 rules relating to the participation of institutions of higher 1-19 education and students in the national student exchange program. 1-20 (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 54.051 of this 1-21 code, a nonresident exchange student participating in the program 1-22 may be charged the resident tuition rate during the period of 1-23 participation in the program. 1-24 (e) A student participating in the program from another 2-1 state shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 51.306 of this 2-2 code unless that student becomes a degree-seeking undergraduate 2-3 student at a Texas public institution of higher education. 2-4 (f) A student may not participate in the program for more 2-5 than one year. 2-6 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-11 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-12 passage, and it is so enacted.