Texas 2009 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB324 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/01/2025

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                    81R1837 KEL-D
 By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 324


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the tuition rebate program for certain undergraduate
 students at general academic teaching institutions.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1. Section 54.0065, Education Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), (j),
 and (k) to read as follows:
 (b) Except as provided by Subsections (b-1) and (b-2), the
 [The] amount of tuition to be rebated to a student graduating in an
 academic year [under this section] is the amount certified for that
 academic year to the governing board of the general academic
 teaching institution by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
 Board under this section.
 (b-1)  The amount of tuition to be rebated to a student is two
 times the certified amount if the student satisfies the
 requirements of this section in three years or less.
 (b-2) If [$1,000, unless] the total amount of undergraduate
 tuition paid by the student to the general academic teaching
 institution [of higher education] awarding the degree was less than
 the full amount of rebate under Subsection (b) or (b-1), as
 applicable [$1,000], [in which event] the amount of tuition to be
 rebated is an amount equal to the amount of undergraduate tuition
 paid by the student to the institution. However, the [a] student
 [who paid the institution awarding the degree an amount of
 undergraduate tuition less than $1,000] may qualify for an increase
 in the amount of the rebate, not to exceed the applicable amount
 under Subsection (b) or (b-1) [a total rebate of $1,000], for any
 amount of undergraduate tuition the student paid to other
 institutions of higher education by providing the institution with
 proof of the total amount of that tuition paid to other institutions
 of higher education.
 (j)  Not later than August 15 of each academic year, the
 coordinating board shall determine and certify to the governing
 board of each general academic teaching institution the amount of
 tuition to be rebated by institutions under Subsection (b) to
 students graduating in the next academic year. The amount
 certified must equal the rebate amount certified in the preceding
 academic year to general academic teaching institutions under this
 subsection for rebates awarded under Subsection (b) in the current
 academic year, increased by a percentage, expressed in decimal form
 rounded to the nearest hundredth, that equals the average
 percentage by which those institutions have increased from the
 current academic year to the next academic year the total amount of
 tuition charged under Section 54.0513 or another law authorizing
 the institutions to establish tuition rates.
 (k)  Notwithstanding Subsection (j), not later than October
 31, 2009, the coordinating board shall determine and certify to the
 governing board of each general academic teaching institution the
 amount of tuition to be rebated by institutions under Subsection
 (b) to students graduating in the 2009-2010 academic year. The
 amount certified must equal the full amount of a rebate authorized
 to be awarded by general academic teaching institutions under
 Subsection (b), as that subsection existed on January 1, 2009,
 during the 2008-2009 academic year, increased by a percentage,
 expressed in decimal form rounded to the nearest hundredth, that
 equals the average percentage by which those institutions have
 increased from the 2003-2004 academic year to the 2009-2010
 academic year the total amount of tuition charged under Section
 54.0513 or another law authorizing the institutions to establish
 tuition rates. For purposes of Subsection (j), the amount
 certified under this subsection is considered to have been
 certified under Subsection (j) on August 15, 2009.  This subsection
 expires January 1, 2011.
 SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies
 only to a student who is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a
 general academic teaching institution on or after September 1,
 2009.
 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
 rules under Section 54.0065, Education Code, as amended by this
 Act, for rebates awarded during the 2009-2010 academic year in the
 manner provided by law for the adoption of emergency rules.
 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.