Relating to requiring a sworn statement by certain foreign students enrolled at or employees of public institutions of higher education.

89(R) HB 3741 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R26231 CXP-D

By: Shofner, et al.

H.B. No. 3741

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3741:

By: Lambert

C.S.H.B. No. 3741

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring a sworn statement by certain foreign students

enrolled at or employees of public institutions of higher

education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 51.9092 to read as follows:

Sec.

51.9092.

SWORN STATEMENT BY FOREIGN STUDENT OR

EMPLOYEE. (a) In this section:

(1)

"Foreign agent"

means a person who intends to

retrieve information, research, technology, materials, or other

physical or intellectual property on behalf of a foreign

government, quasi government, or terrorist organization.

(2)

"Institution of higher education"

has the meaning

assigned by Section 61.003.

(b)

This section applies only to a student or employee who

is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

(c)

An institution of higher education shall require a

student enrolled at or employee of the institution to sign and

submit to the institution a statement certifying that the student

or employee is not a foreign agent of a foreign government, quasi

government, or terrorist organization hostile to the United States

of America or this state.

(d)

A sworn statement under this section must include the

following:

"By signing this document, I affirm that I am not a foreign

agent of a foreign government, quasi government, or terrorist

organization hostile to the United States of America or the State of

Texas."

(e)

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt

rules as necessary for the administration of this section.

SECTION 2. Section 51.9092, Education Code, as added by

this Act, applies to a student enrolled at or employee of a public

institution of higher education regardless of whether the student

or employee was enrolled at or hired by the institution before, on,

or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. 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, 2025.