AUSTIN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – House District 92 Representative Jeff Cason announced his intention to file the Bill to End State Tuition for Illegal Purposes.
The bill would stop the current practice of using taxpayer dollars to fund higher education for illegal immigrants in Texas. Cason was joined by fellow student Bryan Slaton from R-Royse City, who announced his intention to co-author the legislation.
“Texans’ tax dollars should not be used to reward and encourage illegal immigration into our state and nation. With Texas taxpayers seeing their property taxes spike, they are rightly more frustrated that Texas lawmakers have deemed it appropriate to hand out handouts to illegal immigrants. This must end now, ”said representative Cason.
An identical version of the bill was submitted to the 86th legislature by Rep. Kyle Biedermann, R-Fredericksburg. It was referred to the college committee chaired by Democratic Representative Chris Turner of Grand Prairie, which Cason said it never received a hearing.
“This is a clear promise that Republicans made to the electorate in Texas. We cannot allow taxpayer-funded magnets, illegally targeting those in our state, to continue to be funded while ignoring priorities such as property tax relief. Now is the time to deliver results. “
An earlier version of this bill was tabled in the 85th and 84th legislatures by Jonathan Stickland, who represented House District 92 before Jeff Cason. During those meetings, the bills were passed to the State Affairs Committee, chaired by Corsicana Republican Representative Byron Cook, where they never received a hearing, Cason said.
Legislature passed HB HB3, also known as the Texas Dream Act, in 2001 with overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans. They must have graduated from high school or obtained a GED diploma in Texas, lived in the state for at least three years, and signed an affidavit stating that they would like legal residence.
For more than a decade, conservative lawmakers have tried to end HB 1403 without success.
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