Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 3015 amends the Education Code to allow the governing board of a public college or university to charge any student, in addition to the statutory tuition otherwise prescribed by the code, an amount the board deems necessary for the effective operation of that institution. The bill allows the board to set different tuition rates by program and course level to increase graduation rates, encourage efficient use of facilities, or enhance employee performance. The bill requires each board to set aside a specified minimum percentage of any designated tuition above $46 per semester credit hour to provide financial aid for students at those respective levels or programs; the requirement is 20 percent for resident undergraduates and for resident graduate school or professional degree program students.

            The bill requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to publicize the tuition assistance available from the set aside funds at each public or accredited private high school. The bill also requires the chief executive officer of each public college or university to provide the institution's governing board a statistical report on the institution's affordability and access, and it establishes certain content requirements for that report.

            The bill amends the prepaid college tuition program to require a senior college or university to accept as payment in full of a senior college plan beneficiary's tuition and mandatory fees the lesser of the actual tuition and mandatory fees charged by the institution or an amount paid by the board under the contract equal to the weighted average of tuition and mandatory fees at all public senior colleges and universities for that semester. The bill also establishes the Legislative Oversight Committee on Higher Education to monitor and regularly report to the legislature on each higher education institution's performance with respect to certain goals and performance criteria.