MMA H.B. 2159 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS HIGHER EDUCATION H.B. 2159 By: Uher 3-29-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Texas public colleges and universities are among the finest institutions of higher learning in the world. For residents of Texas, the cost of attending these fine schools is extremely reasonable. However, residents who live and pay taxes in the state of Texas for many years and then must leave the state for some reason (e.g. job transfer) face difficult decisions as their children reach college age. They may want to send their children to a Texas school, but are unable to do so because of the high cost of out-of-state tuition. Current law provides a "window" of opportunity for in-state tuition rates for former Texas residents who have lived outside of the state for less than one year. PURPOSE H.B. 2159 extends the time that Texans may qualify for in-state tuition after leaving the state from one year to five years contingent upon the student's guardian having previously lived in Texas for 10 or more consecutive years. 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 54.055, Education Code, by adding subsection (b), (c) and (d) to read as follows: Sec. 54.055. PARENTS, CHANGE OF RESIDENCE TO ANOTHER STATE. (a) Allows an individual, 18 years old or under whose parents were Texas residents but have changed their legal residence to another state, to pay in-state tuition as long as the individual remains continuously enrolled in a regular session at an institution. (b) Allows an individual to pay in-state tuition provided the guardian had been a resident of Texas for ten consecutive years, and has been away from the state less than five years. (c) Requires the student to remain continuously enrolled in a regular session in order to continue paying in-state tuition. (d) Defines "guardian." SECTION 2. Effective with tuition and fees charged for the fall semester, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.