81R4111 KSD-D
By: Bolton H.B. No. 1120
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to limitations on increases in designated tuition charged
by certain general academic teaching institutions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.0513, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) to read as follows:
(g) The amount of tuition the governing board of a general
academic teaching institution other than a public state college
charges under this section to a student for an academic year may not
exceed the total amount of tuition that the governing board would
have charged under this section to a similarly situated student in
the preceding academic year, as that amount is adjusted for each
academic year for inflation as determined under Subsection (h).
The governing board may not increase the amount of tuition charged
under this section to a student more than once in any academic year.
For purposes of this subsection, students are similarly situated if
they share the same residency status, degree program, course load,
course level, tuition exemption status, and other circumstances
affecting the tuition charged to the student.
(h) Not later than March 1 of each year, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board by rule shall determine the inflation
rate to be used for purposes of Subsection (g) for the next academic
year and shall certify that rate to the governing board of each
institution of higher education to which Subsection (g) applies.
For purposes of Subsection (g), the inflation rate is the
percentage increase, if any, as expressed in decimal form rounded
to the nearest thousandth, in the consumer price index, as defined
by Section 341.201, Finance Code, for the preceding calendar year
as compared to the consumer price index for the year preceding that
year.
(i) The coordinating board may adopt rules as necessary to
administer Subsections (g) and (h).
(j) In this section, "general academic teaching
institution" and "public state college" have the meanings assigned
by Section 61.003.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section
54.0513, Education Code, apply beginning with tuition charged for
the 2010-2011 academic year. Tuition charged for an academic year
before that academic year is covered by the law in effect before the
effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
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, 2009.