HOUSE BILL 481

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Nora Espinoza

AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR RESIDENT TUITION AND FEE RATES FOR INTERNATIONAL AND NONRESIDENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS STUDYING SCIENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE, HEALTH, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS OR BUSINESS AT CERTAIN UNIVERSITIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 21 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Entrepreneurial International Student Tuition Act"."

     SECTION 2. A new section of Chapter 21 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Entrepreneurial International Student Tuition Act:

          A. "department" means the higher education department;

          B. "eligible program" means an undergraduate major course of study in science, computer science, health, information technology, engineering, mathematics or business;

          C. "eligible student" means a student who is not a resident of New Mexico and who is enrolled in an eligible program and seeking a bachelor's degree at a participating university beginning in the 2015-2016 academic year and in subsequent years;

          D. "nonresident tuition waiver" means the in-state resident tuition and fee rates granted to a student by a participating university pursuant to the Entrepreneurial International Student Tuition Act; and

          E. "participating university" means the university of New Mexico, New Mexico state university, western New Mexico university, eastern New Mexico university, New Mexico highlands university and the New Mexico institute of mining and technology."

     SECTION 3. A new section of Chapter 21 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] ELIGIBILITY AND RESTRICTION.--

          A. A participating university may grant a nonresident tuition waiver to an eligible student, if:

                (1) the participating university determines that the eligible student's academic record merits the award of a nonresident tuition waiver;

                (2) the eligible student will reside in New Mexico while enrolled at the participating university; and

                (3) the eligible student signs a statement indicating an interest in working or starting a business in New Mexico after graduation.

          B. During any one academic year, the number of nonresident tuition waivers granted by a participating university shall not exceed five percent of that participating university's full-time-equivalent undergraduate enrollment for the previous year."

     SECTION 4. A new section of Chapter 21 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REQUIRED REPORTING.--A participating university that grants nonresident tuition waivers shall, at the end of every academic year during which nonresident tuition waivers were granted, report the following to the department:

          A. the number of eligible students who received nonresident tuition waivers;

          B. the area of study for each eligible student who received a nonresident tuition waiver;

          C. the average grade point average of all eligible students who received nonresident tuition waivers for that year;

          D. the average grade point average of all students at the participating university for that year;

          E. the graduation rate of eligible students who received nonresident tuition waivers for that year; and

          F. the participating university's overall graduation rate for that year."

     SECTION 5. A new section of Chapter 21 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING.--

          A. If the department receives funding pursuant to the Entrepreneurial International Student Tuition Act, the department shall allocate those funds to each participating university that is granting nonresident tuition waivers. Funds shall be allocated between participating universities in proportion to the increase in enrollment of eligible students who are not citizens of the United States at each participating university for the previous year.

          B. All funding received by a participating university, as provided for in Subsection A of this section, shall be used to enhance the science, computer science, health, information technology, engineering, mathematics and business programs at that participating university."

     SECTION 6. A new section of Chapter 21 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] RULES AND POLICIES.--

          A. The department shall promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of and maintain records in connection with the Entrepreneurial International Student Tuition Act.

          B. Every participating university shall adopt policies to implement the provisions of the Entrepreneurial International Student Tuition Act."

     SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2015.

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