81R2685 KSD-D
By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 214
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to limitations on increases in the total amount of tuition
charged by public institutions 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 INCREASE IN 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 may not exceed the total amount of
tuition that the institution would have charged to a similarly
situated student in the preceding 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 five percent 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.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with tuition charged
by public institutions of higher education for the 2010-2011
academic year.
SECTION 3. 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.