SRC-JRN C.S.H.B. 1548 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   C.S.H.B. 1548
By: Turner, Sylvester (Galloway)
Education
5-15-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


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, C.S.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 provide that a
public junior college must meet certain requirements, to be eligible for
and to receive a proportionate share of appropriated funds, among which
include collecting, from each full-time and part-time student enrolled,
matriculation and other session fees in the amounts required by law.
Deletes a provision that fees collected are to be in amounts required by
Section 54.051, of this code.  Deletes a provision authorizing the
governing board of a public junior college district to waive the
difference in the rate of tuition for nonresident and resident students
for a person, and his dependents, who owns property which is subject to ad
valorem taxation by the junior college district. 

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 130A, Education Code, by adding Section
130.0032, as follows: 

Sec. 132.0032.  TUITION FOR STUDENTS RESIDING OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT.
Authorizes the governing board of a public junior college to allow a
person who resides outside the district and who owns property subject to
ad valorem taxation by the district, or a dependent of the person, to pay
tuition at the rate applicable to a student who resides in the district.
Authorizes the governing board of a public junior college district to
allow a person who resides outside the district and in the taxing district
of a contiguous public junior college district to pay tuition and fees at
the rate applicable to a student who resides in the district. Authorizes
the governing board of a public junior college district to allow a person
who resides outside the district to pay tuition and fees at a rate less
than the rate applicable to other persons residing outside the district,
but not less than the rate applicable to a student who resides in the
district, if the person meets certain requirements.   

SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with tuition and fees
charged for the 1997 fall semester. 

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.

 SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1. 

Deletes proposed text to Section 130.003(b), Education Code, authorizing
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.
Sets forth new text to amend Section 130.003(b), to require a public
junior college to meet the requirement of collecting fees required by law.
Deletes a provision that fees collected are to be in amounts required by
Section 54.051, of this code.  Deletes a provision authorizing the
governing board of a public junior college district to waive the
difference in the rate of tuition for nonresident and resident students
for a person, and his dependents, who owns property which is subject to ad
valorem taxation by the junior college district. 

SECTION 2.

Redesignates proposed SECTION 2 to SECTION 3.  Amends Chapter 130A,
Education Code, by adding Section 130.0032, regarding tuition for students
residing outside of a public junior college district. 

SECTIONS 3 and 4.

Redesignated from SECTIONS 2 and 3.