SRC-JRN H.B. 1548 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1548 By: Turner, Sylvester (Galloway) Education 5-9-97 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, when two college districts split a geographical area, the residents must go to the community college district wherein they reside or pay non-resident tuition and fees to the other community college district. Some students attending community junior colleges may come from independent school districts that are "low-wealth" and/or rural districts that do not qualify under the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rules. This bill allows the governing board of a public junior college district to waive tuition and fees for certain students. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1548 allows the governing board of a public junior college district to waive tuition and fees for certain students. 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 Section 130.003(b), Education Code, to authorize the governing board of a public institution to waive certain fees, including the difference in the rate of tuition and fees for nonresident and resident students for a person who resides in the taxing district of a contiguous public junior college district; or all or part of the difference in the rate of tuition and fees for nonresident and resident students for a person who resides in the service area of the junior college district but does not reside in an independent school district that meets the criteria of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for the establishment of a junior college district under Section 130.013. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with tuition and fees charged for the 1997 fall semester. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.