Texas House Bill HB209

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

• Filed: 11/10/14

Caption

Relating to the determination of resident status of students by public institutions of higher education.

Impact

The provisions of HB 209 would enable institutions to require explicit documentation of residency, requiring students to prove their domicile status based on a year-long residency prior to enrollment. This legislative change addresses past ambiguities surrounding the residency classification for students, which can affect their educational expenses significantly. Furthermore, it gives public institutions additional authority to reassess a student's residency status if the established criteria are not met, potentially resulting in changes to tuition classifications, which could impact a large number of students.

Summary

House Bill 209 seeks to amend the Texas Education Code regarding the determination of resident status for students enrolling in public institutions of higher education. It establishes clearer criteria for how residency is assessed, particularly focusing on the duration of domicile within the state. The bill impacts students seeking resident classification, which is crucial for tuition rates, as students classified as residents typically pay significantly lower tuition compared to non-residents.

Contention

While HB 209 aims to clarify residency requirements, it has also raised concerns among students and advocacy groups. Some argue that the stricter requirements could disproportionately affect students who move frequently due to family circumstances or those who are trying to establish themselves in Texas. This could lead to a scenario where eligible students are left vulnerable due to potentially ambiguous rules regarding continuity of residence, and questions about the fairness of allowing institutions to reclassify students as non-residents arbitrarily could lead to significant pushback.