MMA H.B. 1820 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


HIGHER EDUCATION
H.B. 1820
By: Solis
3-27-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

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
(DGETI and CONALEP).   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. 

PURPOSE

H.B. 1820 would allow the Texas State Technical College System to exempt
Mexican residents from paying out-of-state tuition rates. 

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 Section 54.060(b) and (d), Education Code, to read as
follows: 
Sec. 54.060. RESIDENT OF BORDERING STATE OR NATION OR PARTICIPANT IN
STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM:  TUITION.  (b)  Adds language to allow a
component of the Texas State Technical College System to exempt a foreign
student of a nation adjacent to Texas from paying out-of-state tuition and
makes conforming changes.  
(d) Makes conforming changes to include TSTC System in the program, and
adds "certificate or diploma" to what a student may receive in addition to
what is stated by the existing law.  

SECTION 2.  Effective beginning with tuition charged for fall semester,
1997. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.