Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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EDUCATION/Higher
77 th Texas Legislature
Tuition for Resident Children - H.B. 1403
by Representative Noriega, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Van de Putte
Children of state residents may not be eligible for resident tuition at state postsecondary institutions. Aliens
may live in the state for most of their lives but still must pay non-resident tuition at any college located
outside of the counties that border Mexico. Children of a resident citizen may live in another state as a
result of divorce.
Allows a student to pay resident tuition if the student lived with parents, or in another family arrangement, in
the state for three years, graduated from a Texas high school or earned a GED, entered a postsecondary
institution in 2001 or later, agreed to file an application for residency at earliest opportunity, and did not
establish residency outside the state.
Allows a student who moved out of the state with one parent while another lives in the state to pay resident
tuition.
Allows an alien who has filed for or has a petition pending with the Immigration and Naturalization Service
for legal status to pay resident tuition.
Allows a Mexican citizen who enrolls at the University of Texas at San Antonio to pay resident tuition.
UT- Pan American Expands to Rio Grande City - H.B. 1753
by Representative Gutierrez, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Zaffirini
The University of Texas – Pan American, located in Edinburg, will be able to extend the availability of
upper-division courses to Rio Grande City, about 45 miles from Edinburg.
Authorizes the university to enter into a partnership with South Texas Community College to offer
baccalaureate degrees in Rio Grande City.
Allows the university to open an extension campus to offer upper-division courses to students who have
successfully completed lower-division courses at STCC.
Research and Excellence Funds - H.B. 1839
by Representative Junell, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Ellis
The economic future of Texas depends on the state's ability to remain at the forefront of scientific and
technological innovation. Texas is favorably located and has the infrastructure needed to facilitate growth
in the high-tech industry and is positioned to meet the technological challenges of the next century.
Currently, Texas ranks second in the nation in the total number of high-tech jobs and first in the number of
Senate Research Center 86