By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2449
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the determination of resident status of certain high
  school graduates by public institutions of higher education and to
  the tuition and fees charged by those institutions to those
  graduates.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 54.052, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 54.052.  DETERMINATION OF RESIDENT STATUS. (a)
  Subject to the other applicable provisions of this subchapter
  governing the determination of resident status, the following
  persons are considered residents of this state for purposes of this
  title:
               (1)  a person who:
                     (A)  established a domicile in this state not
  later than one year before the census date of the academic term in
  which the person is enrolled in an institution of higher education;
  and
                     (B)  maintained that domicile continuously for
  the year preceding that census date; and
               (2)  a dependent whose parent:
                     (A)  established a domicile in this state not
  later than one year before the census date of the academic term in
  which the dependent is enrolled in an institution of higher
  education; and
                     (B)  maintained that domicile continuously for
  the year preceding that census date[; and
               [(3)  a person who:
                     [(A)  graduated from a public or private high
  school in this state or received the equivalent of a high school
  diploma in this state; and
                     [(B)  maintained a residence continuously in this
  state for:
                           [(i)  the three years preceding the date of
  graduation or receipt of the diploma equivalent, as applicable; and
                           [(ii)  the year preceding the census date of
  the academic term in which the person is enrolled in an institution
  of higher education].
         (b)  For purposes of this section, the domicile of a
  dependent's parent is presumed to be the domicile of the dependent
  [unless the person establishes eligibility for resident status
  under Subsection (a)(3)].
         SECTION 2.  Section 54.053, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 54.053.  INFORMATION REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH RESIDENT
  STATUS. A person shall submit the following information to an
  institution of higher education to establish resident status under
  this subchapter:
               (1)  if the person applies for resident status under
  Section 54.052(a)(1):
                     (A)  a statement of the dates and length of time
  the person has resided in this state, as relevant to establish
  resident status under this subchapter; and
                     (B)  a statement by the person that the person's
  presence in this state for that period was for a purpose of
  establishing and maintaining a domicile; or
               (2)  if the person applies for resident status under
  Section 54.052(a)(2):
                     (A)  a statement of the dates and length of time
  any parent of the person has resided in this state, as relevant to
  establish resident status under this subchapter; and
                     (B)  a statement by the parent or, if the parent is
  unable or unwilling to provide the statement, a statement by the
  person that the parent's presence in this state for that period was
  for a purpose of establishing and maintaining a domicile[; or
               [(3)  if the person applies for resident status under
  Section 54.052(a)(3):
                     [(A)  a statement of the dates and length of time
  the person has resided in this state, as relevant to establish
  resident status under this subchapter; and
                     [(B)  if the person is not a citizen or permanent
  resident of the United States, an affidavit stating that the person
  will apply to become a permanent resident of the United States as
  soon as the person becomes eligible to apply].
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 54.371 to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.371.  GRADUATES OF HIGH SCHOOLS IN THIS STATE. (a)
  This section applies only to a person who:
               (1)  graduated from a public or private high school in
  this state or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in
  this state; and
               (2)  attended the high school in this state for:
                     (A)  at least three years; and
                     (B)  the year preceding the census date of the
  academic term in which the person is enrolled in an institution of
  higher education.
         (b)  A person to whom Subsection (a) applies state shall be
  exempt from nonresident tuition and fees if the person presents the
  following information to the applicable institution of higher
  education:
               (1)  a statement of the dates and length of time the
  person attended high school in this state; and
               (2)  if the person is not a citizen or permanent
  resident of the United States, an affidavit stating that the person
  will apply to become a permanent resident of the United States as
  soon as the person becomes eligible to apply.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, a person who is entitled
  to pay resident tuition and fees at the rates permitted by this
  section may qualify for loans, grants, scholarships, funds, or
  other state or institutional assistance, whether the assistance is
  financial or otherwise, without regard to the person's resident
  status under this title if the person is otherwise eligible for the
  assistance.
         SECTION 4.  (a) The change in law made by this Act to Section
  54.052, Education Code, applies beginning with the determination of
  a person's resident status by a public institution of higher
  education for the 2023 fall semester. The determination of a
  person's resident status by a public institution of higher
  education for an academic period before that semester is governed
  by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this
  Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         (b)  Section 54.371, Education Code, as added by this Act,
  applies beginning with tuition and fees charged for the 2023 fall
  semester. Tuition and fees charged for an academic period before
  that semester are governed by the law in effect immediately before
  the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.