86R27650 KJE-F
By: Howard H.B. No. 1933
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1933:
By: Howard C.S.H.B. No. 1933
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to authorizing a public institution of higher education to
include certain textbook costs in the institution's charge for
tuition or required fees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.019 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.019. INCLUSION OF CERTAIN TEXTBOOK COSTS IN TUITION
OR FEES CHARGE. (a) In this section, "coordinating board" means
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
(b) The governing board of an institution of higher
education may establish in accordance with this section and 34
C.F.R. Section 668.164(c)(2)(i) a textbook affordability program
under which the institution may include the cost of any textbooks or
other materials required for a course in the tuition or required
fees charged by the institution for the course.
(c) A textbook affordability program established under this
section must:
(1) permit a student to opt out of the program,
including having the cost of textbooks or materials included in the
tuition or required fees charged to the student; and
(2) provide a student a means of obtaining textbooks
or materials not later than the first day of the semester or other
term in which the textbooks or materials are required.
(d) For each course included in a textbook affordability
program established by an institution of higher education under
this section, the institution shall include in the course catalog
under Section 54.0051:
(1) the cost of the textbooks or other materials
included in the tuition or required fees charged for the course
under the program; and
(2) a description of the opt-out provision under
Subsection (c).
(e) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,
the coordinating board shall submit to the standing legislative
committees with primary jurisdiction over higher education a report
on the aggregate savings to students resulting from textbook
affordability programs established under this section.
(f) The coordinating board shall adopt rules for the
administration of a textbook affordability program established
under this section, including rules that ensure that each program
complies with state and federal law regarding confidentiality of
student educational information, including the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g).
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies
beginning with the 2019 fall semester.
SECTION 3. Not later than November 1, 2020, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall submit the initial report
required under Section 54.019, Education Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 4. 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, 2019.