Texas Senate Bill SB104

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Filed: 11/10/08

Caption

Relating to a limitation on the amount of tuition charged by public institutions of higher education.

Impact

The bill will amend the Education Code by establishing a fixed cap on tuition fees, thereby making higher education more financially accessible to students. By indexing tuition to the costs from a specific past academic year, SB104 encourages institutions to manage their tuition structures more prudently, potentially leading to a stabilization in tuition hikes. This is particularly significant for students from low-income backgrounds who often struggle with the escalating costs of education.

Summary

SB104 seeks to impose a limitation on the tuition fees charged by public institutions of higher education in Texas. Specifically, the bill states that the total tuition charged to a student for an academic year cannot exceed the amount that would have been charged to a similarly situated student during the 2008-2009 academic year. This measure aims to tackle rising tuition costs and enhance the affordability of higher education for students across the state.

Contention

Discussions around SB104 may highlight notable points of contention, including concerns from educational institutions about the constraints that such a limit could impose on their budgeting and operational capabilities. Critics of the bill argue that while the intention to control tuition fees is commendable, capping tuition could limit an institution's ability to provide necessary resources and quality education, especially in the face of inflation and rising operational costs. Therefore, while the bill promotes affordability, it may inadvertently hinder the quality and breadth of educational offerings.