SRC-HRD H.B. 65 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 65
By: Kamel (Cain)
Finance
5-16-97
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 

Currently, when a public university or junior college raises the tuition
and/or fees after students have registered for the semester, the
institution may charge students the higher rate.  This presents a
disservice to students who make plans to pay a certain amount and later
are charged extra for tuition or fee increases unknown to students either
before or at the time of their registration.  This bill would prohibit a
public institution of higher education from charging a student higher
tuition rates or fees for a given semester if that student registered
before the university set higher rates.
PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 65 prohibits a public institution of higher education
from charging a student higher tuition rates or fees for a given semester
if that student registered before the university set higher rates.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 54A, Education Code, by adding Section 54.009,
as follows: 

Sec. 54.009.  INCREASE IN TUITION RATE OR FEES.  Prohibits an institution
of higher education that sets the tuition rates and fees for a semester or
summer term and permits a student to register for that semester or summer
term from increasing the tuition rate or fees charged that student for
that semester or summer term after the student registers regardless of
whether that student has paid the tuition and fees for that semester or
summer term. 

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with tuition and fees
due for the spring semester of 1998. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amendment 1.

Page 1, lines 15-16, replace proposed SECTION 2 text with:  "This Act
applies beginning with tuition and fees due for the spring semester of
1998."