BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2244

By: Zaffirini

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current statutes authorize the use of in-state tuition for economic development and as a motivator for parents to reside in Texas, but these statutes lack a time limit and do not focus on businesses that are new to Texas. 

S.B. 2244 sets a time limit within which a business or organization must be established as part of the state's economic development program before the date of an employee's or employee's dependent's enrollment at an institution of higher education for the employee or dependent to be entitled to pay resident tuition at such an institution.

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.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 2244 amends the Education Code to clarify that provisions entitling a person to pay in-state tuition and fees at an institution of higher education because the person or an adult member of the person's family with whom the person resides and who is the person's primary caretaker establishes by the institution's enrollment date a residence in Texas because of the person's or caretaker's employment by a business or organization established as part of the state's economic development and diversification program apply to employment by a business or organization established not earlier than five years before the enrollment date. The bill requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, to establish procedures to determine whether a business or organization meets such requirements and the date on which the business or organization became established in this state as part of the economic development and diversification program.

S.B. 2244 makes its provisions applicable beginning with tuition and required fees for the fall 2010 semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2010.