MMA H.B. 1989 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS HIGHER EDUCATION H.B. 1989 By: Rangel 4-9-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Texas businesses have expressed strong support for efforts to have more Texas students study in foreign countries. Such direct experience is the best possible way for students to learn to appreciate the intricacies and subtleties of other cultures and the ways that business is conducted. Current law enables Texas institutions of higher education to establish such exchange programs with counterparts in Mexico and Canada. The exchanges established under this program have proven highly beneficial to Texas. More than 250 students at Texas colleges and universities have taken advantage of the opportunities associated with these programs in Mexico which have contributed immensely to their understanding of Mexican culture and business practice. Other states permit their institutions of higher education to enter into student exchange agreements with foreign institutions throughout the world--an advantage Texas institutions presently do not have. This situation has placed Texas schools at a serious disadvantage in comparison to other states whose students are provided with opportunities to study across the world, as well as, preventing students from becoming versed in global economic issues which will have implications for future Texas business activity. PURPOSE H.B. 1989 would allow the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish a student exchange program with other nations. 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 (c), Education Code, by adding language that mandates THECB to establish student exchange programs with other nations in addition to the United Mexican States and Canada as provided in current statute. Also, exempts a foreign student participating in an exchange program established by this section from the foreign student tuition fee prescribed in this chapter. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.