BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3124

By: Wilson

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that The Texas A&M University System has recently contracted, in partnership with other institutions, to manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory under terms that include the system's provision of certain training and education-related support. The system intends to provide the laboratory's employees and their dependents with the equivalent of in-state tuition at system campuses, as has been the policy of institutions such as The University of Texas under similar management agreements. H.B. 3124 seeks to provide the necessary authority for such a discounted tuition rate.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 3124 amends the Education Code to entitle 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 if the person is employed by:

·         a national laboratory owned by the U.S. Department of Energy with whom the system's board of regents has entered into a management and operation agreement or academic affiliation agreement; or

·         the operator of a national laboratory owned by the U.S. Department of Energy with whom the board has entered into a membership agreement or equivalent governance document.

The bill applies beginning with tuition and fees charged by the system for the 2019 fall semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.