By: Watson S.B. No. 1764
(In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2009; March 20, 2009, read
first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
April 29, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5,
Nays 0; April 29, 2009, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the dissemination of information regarding the cost of
attending public and private institutions of higher education and
regarding the availability of financial aid to assist in paying
that cost.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0777 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0777. UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR PUBLICATION OF COST OF
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION. (a) The board shall prescribe uniform
standards intended to ensure that information regarding the cost of
attendance at institutions of higher education and at private or
independent institutions of higher education approved under
Subchapter F to receive tuition equalization grant funds is
available to the public in a manner that is consumer-friendly and
readily understandable to prospective students and their families.
In developing the standards, the board shall examine common and
recommended practices regarding the publication of such
information and shall solicit recommendations and comments from
institutions of higher education and affected private or
independent institutions of higher education.
(b) The uniform standards must:
(1) address all of the elements that constitute the
total cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, room and
board costs, book and supply costs, transportation costs, and other
personal expenses; and
(2) prescribe model language to be used to describe
each element of the cost of attendance.
(c) Each institution of higher education and each private or
independent institution of higher education approved under
Subchapter F to receive tuition equalization grant funds that
offers an undergraduate degree or certificate program shall:
(1) prominently display on the institution's Internet
website in accordance with the uniform standards prescribed under
this section information regarding the cost of attendance at the
institution by a full-time entering first-year student; and
(2) conform to the uniform standards in any electronic
or printed materials intended to provide to prospective
undergraduate students information regarding the cost of
attendance at the institution.
(d) Institutions described by Subsection (c) shall consider
the uniform standards prescribed under this section when providing
information to the public or to prospective students regarding the
cost of attendance at the institution by nonresident students,
graduate students, or students enrolled in professional programs.
(e) The board shall prescribe requirements for an
institution described by Subsection (c) to provide on the
institution's Internet website consumer-friendly and readily
understandable information regarding student financial aid
opportunities. The required information must be provided in
connection with the information displayed under Subsection (c)(1)
and must include a link to the primary federal student financial aid
Internet website intended to assist persons applying for student
financial aid.
(f) The board shall provide on the board's Internet website
a program or similar tool that will compute for a person accessing
the website the estimated net cost of attendance for a full-time
entering first-year student attending an institution described by
Subsection (c). The board shall require each of those institutions
to provide the board with the information the board requires to
administer this subsection.
(g) The board shall prescribe the initial standards and
requirements under this section not later than January 1, 2010.
Institutions of higher education shall comply with the standards
and requirements not later than April l, 2010. This subsection
expires January 1, 2011.
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.
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