BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3124
86R13649 JRJ-F	By: Wilson (Flores)
	Higher Education
	5/14/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

This bill would enable a person, or the person's dependent, to pay in-state tuition rates when enrolled in an institution of The Texas A&M University System (The TAMU System) if the person is employed by a national laboratory with whom the board has entered into a management and operation agreement or academic affiliation agreement.

H.B. 3124 amends the Education Code relating to governing tuition, fee exemptions, and waivers respective to specific target population.

The purpose of creating a new statute is to support the awarded contract for Los Alamos National Laboratory by the National Nuclear Security Administration, which is part of the United States Department of Energy.

This will create a similar option related to affiliations with national laboratories for The TAMU System as current law provides to The University of Texas System, per Section 54.211, Education Code, as created by S.B. 32 (82R).

H.B. 3124 amends current law relating to tuition and fees charged by The Texas A&M University System for certain national laboratory or national laboratory operator employees and dependents.

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 Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, by adding Section 54.369, as follows:

Sec. 54.369. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; NATIONAL LABORATORY OR NATIONAL LABORATORY OPERATOR EMPLOYEE OR DEPENDENT. (a) Defines "board" to mean the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System and defines "national laboratory" and "operator."

(b) Entitles a person, or the person's dependent, to pay tuition and fees at the rates provided for Texas residents when enrolled in an institution of The Texas A&M University System (TAMU System) if the person is employed by:

(1) a national laboratory with whom the board has entered into a management and operation agreement or academic affiliation agreement; or

(2) the operator of a national laboratory with whom the board has entered into a membership agreement or equivalent governance document.

SECTION 2. Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies beginning with tuition and fees charged by The TAMU System for the 2019 fall semester.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.