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.