SRC-HRD C.S.S.B. 474 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 474
By: Ogden
Finance
2-24-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law allows a spouse and children of a member of the Armed
Forces who is stationed outside of Texas to pay Texas in-state tuition
fees for higher education in Texas if the spouse and children establish
residence in Texas by residing in Texas and by filing with the Texas
institution of higher education at which they plan to register a letter of
intent to establish residence in Texas.  In practice, however, the
qualifications for the establishment of residency have been interpreted
inconsistently at institutions of higher education in Texas so that in one
case a daughter of a member of the Armed Forces was denied residency
status, while another daughter of the same member was  granted residency
status at a different university.  This bill sets forth specific
guidelines for granting resident tuition to persons residing in Texas who
are the children and spouses of members of the Armed Forces stationed
outside the state. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 474 sets forth specific guidelines for granting
resident tuition to persons residing in Texas who are the spouses and
children of members of the Armed Forces who are stationed outside the
state.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 54.058, Education Code, by adding Sections (d)
and (i), as follows: 

(d) Provides that a spouse or child of a member of the Armed Forces of the
United States is entitled to pay the tuition fees and other fees or
charges provided for Texas residents for a term or semester at a state
institution of higher education if the member fulfills certain
requirements. 

(i) Provides that a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States
or the former member's spouse or child is entitled to pay the tuition fees
and other fees or charges provided for Texas residents for any term or
semester at a state institution of higher education that begins before the
first anniversary of the member's separation from the Armed Forces if the
former member meets certain qualifications. 

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the fall term or
semester in 1997. 

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

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amends SECTION 1, Section 54.058, Education Code, by adding Section (i),
regarding tuition fees for a former member of the Armed Forces or the
former member's spouse or children.