SRC-MKV C.S.S.B. 743 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 743
77R10358 JSA-FBy: Lucio
Education
3/28/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Section 54.060 of the Texas Education Code provides that foreign
students who demonstrate financial need may pay resident tuition rates at a
Texas state university located in a county immediately adjacent to the
nation in which the foreign student resides.  However, Mexican citizens
must pay nonresident tuition at the University of Texas Health Science
Center-Houston School of Public Health satellite campuses in El Paso and
Brownsville because the satellites are considered part of UT-Houston and
therefore part of Harris County which is not adjacent to Mexico.  C.S.S.B.
743 adds courses that are part of a degree program in public health offered
by a medical and dental unit, as defined by statute, to the eligible
schools in order to correct this unintended exception to current law. The
bill requires the course to take place at an institution, branch campus,
center, or other location in a county immediately adjacent to the nation in
which the foreign student resides. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 54.060, Education Code, as follows:

(b) Adds language to provide that the foreign student tuition fee
prescribed in this chapter does not apply to a foreign student who is a
resident of a nation situated adjacent to Texas, who demonstrates financial
need as provided by Subsection (c), and who registers at a general academic
teaching institution, as defined in Section 61.003(3) in a county
immediately adjacent to the nation in which the foreign student resides.
Adds language providing that the student tuition fee does not apply for
courses that are part of a degree program in public health and are
conducted in a county immediately adjacent to the nation in which the
foreign student resides. Deletes language providing that the tuition fee
does not apply to a student who demonstrates a financial need after the
financial resources of the foreign student and the student's family are
considered. 

 (c) Makes conforming changes.

 (e) Makes a conforming change.

 (f) Makes a conforming change.

(h) Defines "coordinating board," "general academic teaching institution,"
and "public technical institute." 

SECTION 2.  Provides that the change in law made by this Act to Section
54.060, Education Code, applies beginning with tuition charged for the 2001
fall semester. 

 SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Differs from original in Section 54.060(b), Education Code, by breaking out
the new subdivisions in a different manner than in the original Subsection
(b).  Changes the language in Subdivision (4) to provide that if a foreign
student registers in courses that are part of a graduate degree program in
public health and are conducted in a county immediately adjacent to the
nation in which the foreign student resides, then the student does not have
to pay the foreign student tuition fee.  Differs from original in Section
54.060(h), Education Code, by adding the definitions of "coordinating
board" and "general academic teaching institution."