Proposed Law to Repeal In-State Tuition Scheduled for Monday Hearing
Action is required! Senate Bill 1819, which would repeal in-state tuition for Texans without status, is going to be heard in the Senate before the Veterans Affairs & Military Installations Committee on Monday at 8:00 A.M.
This bill would take away the opportunities of students in our community to continue their education and further contribute to the Texas economy.
If you have benefited from in-state tuition as an immigrant student, or support the law because it is smart public policy, you need to tell your story.
You can support in-state tuition laws by testifying against SB 1819 in Austin.
The bill will be heard on:
COMMITTEE: Veteran Affairs & Military Installations-S/C Border Security
TIME & DATE: 8A.M., MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2015
PLACE: Texas Capitol, 1100 N. Congress Ave., Austin TX;
Room 2E.20 (Betty King Cmte. Rm.)
Public testimony will be limited to two minutes per person.
A group of students from Dallas will travel to Austin on Sunday for the Monday hearing.
If you are interested in attending the hearing, please contact
Ramiro Luna at .
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Background
The strength of our Texas economy is based on an educated workforce. In 2001 the Texas Legislature adopted HB 1403, which allows Texas students who have been long-term residents of our state, to qualify for in-state tuition at Texas colleges and universities regardless of their immigration status.
Today, nearly 40% of all states now have adopted similar programs. The high success rate of the Texas plan has resulted in growth and economic benefits for our state.
In 2013, students enrolled in universities under HB 1403 paid $51.6 million in total tuition and fees. Not allowing students educated in Texas to complete a higher education would reduce their ability to be more productive, earn more, and pay more in taxes.
Less than 2% of students enrolled in Texas institutions of higher education qualify for in-state tuition under HB 1403 – the vast majority of which attend community colleges. Furthermore, these students were brought to the U.S. as children through no choice if their own. They’ve successfully overcome many challenges to graduate high school and want to complete their education to further contribute to the U.S. economy.
