SRC-AAA H.B. 1820 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1820
By: Solis (Lucio)
Finance
5-8-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas State Technical College System is the only
state-funded institution of higher education along the Texas/Mexico border
that does not exempt Mexican residents from paying out-of-state tuition.
Texas State Technical College (TSTC)-Harlingen has signed cooperative
agreements with the two principal Mexican technical high school systems.
These agreements provide the structure for exchange activities between the
Mexican schools and TSTC. TSTC will be instrumental in meeting South
Texas' demand for all high-tech industrial training resulting from the
NAFTA agreement. H.B. 1820 allows the Texas State Technical College System
and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to exempt Mexican residents from
paying out-of-state tuition rates.                                  
PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1820 allows the Texas State Technical College System and
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to exempt Mexican residents from
paying out-of-state tuition rates.                   
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board in SECTION 1 (Section 54.060(d), Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 54.060(b) and (d), Education Code, to provide
that the foreign student tuition fee does not apply to certain foreign
students who register at a component of the Texas State Technical College
System or at the Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi.  Requires the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules regarding the transfer
of students to complete a certificate or diploma. Makes conforming
changes.   

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with tuition charged
for the 1997 fall semester. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.