82R8217 KSD-D
By: Isaac H.B. No. 1515
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to temporary limitations on the total amount of tuition
charged to a student by a four-year public institution 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. TEMPORARY LIMITATION ON TOTAL AMOUNT OF
TUITION. (a) In this section:
(1) "General academic teaching institution" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) "Tuition" includes:
(A) tuition for which the rates are prescribed by
this chapter; and
(B) tuition charged by an institution of higher
education under Section 54.0513 or another law authorizing an
institution to establish tuition rates.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 54.0513 or another law
authorizing an institution of higher education to establish tuition
rates, the total amount of tuition charged by a general academic
teaching institution to a student for the 2011-2012, 2012-2013,
2013-2014, or 2014-2015 academic year may not exceed the total
amount of tuition that the institution would have charged under
this chapter to a similarly situated student for the 2010-2011
academic year.
(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 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.
(f) This section expires August 31, 2015.
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, 2011.