BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1792
By: Junell
03-02-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Historically, Texas charges one of the lowest tuition rates at
public institution of higher education in the country.  In fact, it
is often less expensive for a resident of another state to attend
school in Texas paying a nonresident tuition than to pay resident
tuition in his or her home state.  The tuition paid by nonresident
students attending Texas public colleges and university does not
come close to defraying the entire cost of providing that
education.


PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1792 will raise the tuition paid by non-Texas
residents to the average of the five most populous states,
excluding Texas.


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency, or institution.


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 54 B, Education Code, Sections 54.051
(a) and (d) to read as follows:  

     Sec. 54.051.  TUITION RATES.  (a)  Defines coordinating board,
general academic teaching institution, medical and dental unit, and
public junior college.

Subsection (d) authorizes that nonresident students at general
academic teaching institutions or medical and dental units shall
pay tuition per semester credit hour equal to the average of the
nonresident undergraduate tuition charged to a resident of this
state at a public state university in each of the five most
populous states other than this state, as computed by the
coordinating board under this subsection.  The coordinating board
shall set the rate for each academic year and report that rate to
each appropriate institution not later than January 1 of the
calendar year in which the academic year begins, or as soon after
as practicable.

SECTION 2.  Repeals Chapter 54 B, Education Code, Section 54.0511:

     Sec. 54.0511.  COST OF EDUCATION.  (a)  This section is
repealed.

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  
           (a)  Fall 1995.
           (b)  The coordinating board shall calculate the
nonresident tuition applicable to the 1995-1996 academic year and
shall use the tuition rates in effect for the 1994-1995 academic
year.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.
           

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 1792 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on
March 14, 1995.  The following persons testified neutrally on the
bill:  Mr. Mike Kerker, LBB; and Mr. Kenneth Ashworth, Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.  The bill was reported favorably
without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed, by a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 3 absent.