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.