85R4278 KSD-F
By: Clardy, et al. H.B. No. 654
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the elimination of certain formula funding and dropped
course restrictions for returning adult students at public
institutions of higher education and to the tuition rate that may be
charged to those students for certain excessive undergraduate
hours.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.907, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:
(e-1) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules under which an institution of higher education shall
permit a student to drop one additional course under circumstances
described by Subsection (b) than the number of courses permitted to
be dropped under Subsection (c) or under a policy adopted under
Subsection (d) if the student:
(1) has reenrolled at the institution following a
break in enrollment covering the 24-month period preceding the
first class day of the initial semester or other academic term of
the student's reenrollment; and
(2) successfully completed at least 50 semester credit
hours of course work at the institution before that break in
enrollment.
SECTION 2. Section 54.014, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an institution of
higher education may not charge tuition to a resident undergraduate
student at a higher rate under that subsection for semester credit
hours for courses taken by the student that are required to be
included by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in the
formulas established under Section 61.059 by application of Section
61.0595(f-1).
SECTION 3. Section 61.0595, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (f-1) to read as follows:
(f-1) In the formulas established under Section 61.059, the
board shall include without consideration of Subsection (a) or (e)
funding for the first 15 additional semester credit hours earned by
a student who:
(1) has reenrolled at the institution following a
break in enrollment covering the 24-month period preceding the
first class day of the initial semester or other academic term of
the student's reenrollment; and
(2) successfully completed at least 50 semester credit
hours of course work at the institution before that break in
enrollment.
SECTION 4. Section 51.907, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2017 fall semester.
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act to Section
61.0595, Education Code, apply beginning with funding
recommendations made under Section 61.059, Education Code, for the
state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2019.
SECTION 6. 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, 2017.