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.