S.B. No. 1531
AN ACT
relating to formula funding for excess undergraduate credit hours
at public institutions of higher education and to the tuition rate
that may be charged for those credit hours.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.014, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to
read as follows:
(a) An institution of higher education may charge a resident
undergraduate student tuition at a higher rate than the rate
charged to other resident undergraduate students, not to exceed the
rate charged to nonresident undergraduate students, if before the
semester or other academic session begins the student has
previously attempted a number of semester credit hours for courses
taken at any institution of higher education while classified as a
resident student for tuition purposes that exceeds [by at least 30
hours] the number of semester credit hours required for completion
of the degree program in which the student is enrolled by at least:
(1) for an associate degree program, 15 hours; or
(2) for a baccalaureate degree program, 30 hours.
(a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a) [this subsection], an
undergraduate student who is not enrolled in a degree program is
considered to be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program [or
programs requiring a minimum of 120 semester credit hours,
including minors and double majors, and for completion of any
certificate or other special program in which the student is also
enrolled, including a program with a study-abroad component].
(a-2) An institution of higher education that charges
students tuition at a higher rate under Subsection (a) [this
subsection] may adopt a policy under which the institution exempts
from the payment of that higher rate a student that is subject to
the payment of the higher rate solely as a result of hardship as
determined by the institution under the policy.
SECTION 2. Sections 61.0595(a) and (b), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) In the formulas established under Section 61.059, the
board may not include funding for semester credit hours earned by a
resident undergraduate student who before the semester or other
academic session begins has previously attempted a number of
semester credit hours for courses taken at any institution of
higher education while classified as a resident student for tuition
purposes that exceeds [by at least 30 hours] the number of semester
credit hours required for completion of the degree program or
programs in which the student is enrolled, including minors and
double majors, and for completion of any certificate or other
special program in which the student is also enrolled, including a
program with a study-abroad component, by at least:
(1) for an associate degree program, 15 hours; or
(2) for a baccalaureate degree program, 30 hours.
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), an undergraduate
student who is not enrolled in a degree program is considered to be
enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program [requiring a minimum of
120 semester credit hours].
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act to Section
54.014, Education Code, applies beginning with tuition charged to
students enrolling for the first time in an associate degree
program at a public institution of higher education for the 2023
fall semester. Tuition charged to a student who first enrolled in
an associate degree program at a public institution of higher
education before the 2023 fall semester is governed by the law in
effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act to Section
61.0595, Education Code, applies beginning with funding
recommendations made under Section 61.059, Education Code, for the
state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2023, for semester
credit hours earned by students initially enrolling in an associate
degree program at a public institution of higher education for the
2023 fall semester or a subsequent semester or term. Funding
recommendations for semester credit hours earned by a student who
initially enrolled in an associate degree program at a public
institution of higher education before the 2023 fall semester are
governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1531 passed the Senate on
April 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 28, 2021, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1531 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 25, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 73,
Nays 72, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor