81R23121 JRJ-F
By: Hochberg H.B. No. 4244
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to resident tuition rates for certain competitive
scholarship recipients at public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.064, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(a) An institution of higher education may charge a
nonresident [A] student who holds a competitive scholarship of at
least $1,000 for the academic year or summer term for which the
student is enrolled resident tuition and fees [and who is either a
nonresident or a citizen of a country other than the United States
of America is entitled to pay the fees and charges required of Texas
residents] without regard to the length of time the student has
resided in Texas. The student must compete with other students,
including Texas residents, for the scholarship and the scholarship
must be awarded by a scholarship committee officially recognized by
the administration and be approved by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board under criteria developed by the coordinating
board.
(c) A student who would be entitled to pay resident tuition
in the 2009-2010 academic year under this section as this section
existed on January 1, 2009, because the student is awarded a
competitive scholarship for that academic year in the amount
prescribed by Subsection (a) before the beginning of the 2009 fall
semester is entitled to continue to pay resident tuition under this
section as this section existed on January 1, 2009, in each semester
or other term in which the student is awarded such a scholarship, as
long as the student remains enrolled in the same certificate or
degree program. This subsection expires August 1, 2014.
SECTION 2. 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.