82R23521 KSD-D
By: Lewis H.B. No. 2999
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a fixed tuition rate program for certain students who
transfer to a state university after completing an associate degree
program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.016 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.016. FIXED TUITION RATE PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN
TRANSFER STUDENTS AT GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTIONS. (a)
In this section:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(3) "Lower-division institution of higher education"
means a public junior college, public state college, or public
technical institute.
(b) A general academic teaching institution may develop a
fixed tuition rate program for qualified students who agree to
transfer to the institution within 12 months after successfully
earning an associate degree at a lower-division institution of
higher education. Under a program developed under this section, a
general academic teaching institution must:
(1) guarantee to a participating student enrolled in
an associate degree program at a lower-division institution of
higher education, on successful completion of the associate degree
program, transfer admission to the general academic teaching
institution within the period prescribed above; and
(2) notwithstanding any other provision of this
chapter, charge tuition to a participating student for any semester
or other academic term at the same rate the general academic
teaching institution would have charged to the student during the
later of:
(A) the fall semester of the student's freshman
year at another institution of higher education had the student
entered the general academic teaching institution as a freshman
student; or
(B) the fall semester of the second academic year
preceding the academic year of the student's initial enrollment in
the general academic teaching institution.
(c) A general academic teaching institution that develops a
fixed tuition rate program under this section shall prescribe
eligibility requirements for participation in the program and
notify applicants for transfer admission from lower-division
institutions of higher education regarding the program.
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.