By Maxey                                               H.B. No. 628
       74R3476 SMH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to tuition fees and student loans of certain graduate
    1-3  students employed as teaching assistants, assistant instructors, or
    1-4  research assistants at public institutions of higher education.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 54.063, Education Code, is amended to
    1-7  read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 54.063.  TEACHING OR RESEARCH ASSISTANT.  (a)  A
    1-9  teaching assistant or research assistant of any institution of
   1-10  higher education and the spouse and children of such a teaching
   1-11  assistant or research assistant are entitled to register in a state
   1-12  institution of higher education by paying the tuition fees and
   1-13  other fees or charges required for Texas residents under Section
   1-14  54.051 of this code, without regard to the length of time the
   1-15  assistant has resided in Texas, if the assistant is employed at
   1-16  least one-half time in a teaching or research assistant position
   1-17  which relates to the assistant's degree program under rules and
   1-18  regulations established by the employer institution.
   1-19        (b)  The governing board of an institution of higher
   1-20  education shall exempt from the payment of tuition fees a graduate
   1-21  student who:
   1-22              (1)  is employed at the institution as a teaching
   1-23  assistant, assistant instructor, or research assistant;
   1-24              (2)  is researching or writing the report, thesis, or
    2-1  dissertation required by the student's graduate degree program; and
    2-2              (3)  is not enrolled in a course with organized
    2-3  coursework.
    2-4        (c)  A student is considered to be enrolled as a full-time
    2-5  student for purposes of repayment of student loans if the student:
    2-6              (1)  is entitled to an exemption from tuition fees
    2-7  under Subsection (b); or
    2-8              (2)  would be entitled to an exemption from tuition
    2-9  fees under Subsection (b) except that the student is enrolled in a
   2-10  course with organized coursework.
   2-11        SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies
   2-12  beginning with tuition fees due for the fall semester of 1995.
   2-13        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-14  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-15  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-16  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-17  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-18  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-19  passage, and it is so enacted.