81R11210 KSD-D
By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 1808
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to limitations on the total amount of tuition charged to a
student by a public institution of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.0514 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.0514. LIMITATION ON TOTAL AMOUNT OF TUITION. (a)
In this section, "tuition" includes:
(1) tuition for which the rates are prescribed by this
chapter; and
(2) tuition charged by an institution of higher
education under Section 54.0513 or another law authorizing an
institution to establish tuition rates.
(b) The total amount of tuition charged by an institution of
higher education to a student for an academic year may not exceed
the total amount of tuition that the institution would have charged
to a similarly situated student for the 2008-2009 academic year by
more than five percent.
(c) For purposes of this section, 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.
(d) This section does not ensure that the total amount of
tuition charged to an individual student does not increase by more
than the amount provided by Subsection (b) based on a change in the
student's residency status, degree program, course load, course
level, tuition exemption status, or other circumstance affecting
the tuition charged to the student.
(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
rules as necessary to administer this section.
(f) This subsection applies only to tuition charged to
students for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 academic years.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for an
academic year to which this subsection applies, the total amount of
tuition charged to a student by an institution of higher education
may not exceed the total amount of tuition that the institution
would have charged under this chapter to a similarly situated
student for the 2008-2009 academic year. This subsection expires
September 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. Sections 54.0513(a) and (b), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) In addition to amounts that a governing board of an
institution of higher education is authorized to charge as tuition
under the other provisions of this chapter, the governing board[,
under the terms the governing board considers appropriate,] may
charge any student an amount designated as tuition not to exceed the
maximum amount that enables the institution to comply with Section
54.0514 that the governing board considers necessary for the
effective operation of the institution.
(b) Subject to the limit provided by Subsection (a) on the
amount designated as tuition charged under this section, a [A]
governing board may set a different tuition rate under this section
for each program and course level offered by each institution of
higher education[. A governing board may set a different tuition
rate] as the governing board considers appropriate to increase
graduation rates, encourage efficient use of facilities, [or]
enhance employee performance, or further another legitimate
purpose of the institution.
SECTION 3. Sections 54.0515(e) and (f), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(e) It is the legislature's intent that each institution of
higher education[, as a condition to tuition deregulation under
Section 54.0513,] reasonably implement the following:
(1) each institution shall make satisfactory progress
towards the goals provided in its master plan for higher education
and in "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher
education; and
(2) each institution shall meet acceptable
performance criteria, including measures such as graduation rates,
retention rates, enrollment growth, educational quality, efforts
to enhance minority participation, opportunities for financial
aid, and affordability.
(f) The committee shall:
(1) meet at the call of either chair;
(2) monitor and regularly report to the legislature on
each institution of higher education's compliance with the
requirements of Subsection (e); and
(3) receive and review information concerning the
affordability and accessibility of higher education[, including
the impact of tuition deregulation].
SECTION 4. 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.