81R3787 KSD-D
By: Herrero H.B. No. 685
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a fixed tuition rate provided by general academic
teaching institutions and public junior colleges to certain
undergraduate students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.016 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.016. FIXED TUITION RATE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.
(a) In this section:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(2) "General academic teaching institution" and
"public junior college" have the meanings assigned by Section
61.003.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, in a
semester or other academic term, the governing board of a general
academic teaching institution or public junior college may not
charge tuition to an undergraduate student under Section 54.0513,
or under any other law granting the institution or college
discretion to set the tuition rate, at a rate that exceeds the rate
the institution or college charged the student during the first
semester or other academic term the student enrolled in the
institution or college if the student is currently and at all times
while enrolled at the institution or college has been a resident of
this state for purposes of Subchapter B or was otherwise entitled to
pay tuition at the rate provided for residents of this state.
(c) If a student enrolls in a general academic teaching
institution after transferring from another public or private
institution of higher education, Subsection (b) does not apply to
the student after the second anniversary of the date of that
enrollment, regardless of whether the student was ever previously
enrolled at the institution. For any other student enrolled in a
general academic teaching institution, Subsection (b) does not
apply to the student after:
(1) the fourth anniversary of the date the student
first enrolls at the institution, if the student is enrolled in a
four-year degree program; or
(2) the end of the standard completion period for the
degree program in which the student is enrolled, as established by
the institution awarding the degree, if the student is enrolled in a
degree program other than a four-year degree program.
(d) For a student enrolled in a public junior college,
Subsection (b) does not apply to the student after the second
anniversary of the date the student first enrolls at the college.
(e) Each general academic teaching institution or public
junior college shall notify each entering undergraduate student,
including each undergraduate student who transfers to the
institution or college, of the eligibility requirements for a fixed
tuition rate under this section.
(f) In consultation with the general academic teaching
institutions and public junior colleges, the coordinating board
shall adopt any rules the coordinating board considers appropriate
for the administration of this section.
(g) This section does not apply to a student who enters a
general academic teaching institution or public junior college for
the first time before the 2010 fall semester. This subsection
expires January 1, 2016.
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.