AN ACT
1-1 relating to tuition and fees charged by public institutions of
1-2 higher education, including the redesignation of certain fees as
1-3 tuition.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 ARTICLE 1. TUITION AND FEES
1-6 SECTION 1.01. Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
1-7 amended by adding Section 54.0513 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 54.0513. REDESIGNATION OF BUILDING USE FEE. (a) The
1-9 building use fee previously authorized in Section 55.16 of this
1-10 code is redesignated as tuition.
1-11 (b) In addition to amounts that a governing board of an
1-12 institution of higher education is authorized to charge as tuition
1-13 under this chapter, the governing board is authorized to charge as
1-14 tuition the following maximum amounts:
1-15 (1) $34 per semester credit hour for the 1997-1998
1-16 academic year;
1-17 (2) $36 per semester credit hour for the 1998-1999
1-18 academic year;
1-19 (3) $38 per semester credit hour for the 1999-2000
1-20 academic year; and
1-21 (4) $40 per semester credit hour for the 2000-2001
1-22 academic year and each academic year thereafter.
1-23 (c) Amounts collected by an institution of higher education
2-1 under this section are institutional funds as defined by Section
2-2 51.009 of this code and shall be accounted for as designated funds.
2-3 These funds shall not be accounted for in a general appropriations
2-4 act in such a way as to reduce the general revenue appropriation to
2-5 a particular institution.
2-6 (d) A governing board may waive all or part of the tuition
2-7 charged to a student under this section if it finds that the
2-8 payment of such tuition would cause an undue economic hardship on
2-9 the student.
2-10 (e) Section 56.033 of this code requiring certain percentage
2-11 amounts of tuition to be set aside for grants and scholarships does
2-12 not apply to tuition collected under this section.
2-13 (f) A governing board of an institution of higher education
2-14 may continue to charge as tuition under this section the amount
2-15 that it charged as the building use fee at that institution in the
2-16 1996-1997 academic year without holding a public hearing, but may
2-17 not increase tuition under this section above that amount without
2-18 holding a public hearing.
2-19 SECTION 1.02. Subsection (i), Section 54.051, Education
2-20 Code, is amended to read as follows:
2-21 (i) Tuition for a resident student registered at a law
2-22 school is $80 [$75] per semester credit hour. Tuition for a
2-23 nonresident student registered at a law school is the amount that
2-24 can be charged a nonresident graduate student under Subsection (d)
2-25 and Section 54.008 [$200 per semester credit hour].
3-1 SECTION 1.03. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
3-2 amended by adding Section 54.214 to read as follows:
3-3 Sec. 54.214. DISTANCE LEARNING OR OFF-CAMPUS COURSES. The
3-4 governing board of an institution of higher education may waive a
3-5 fee it is authorized to charge if the board determines that:
3-6 (1) a student is enrolled only in distance learning
3-7 courses or other off-campus courses of the institution;
3-8 (2) the student cannot reasonably be expected to use
3-9 the activities, services, or facilities on which the fee is based;
3-10 and
3-11 (3) the waiver of the fee will not materially impair
3-12 the ability of the institution either to service any debt on which
3-13 the fee is based or to offer or operate the particular activity,
3-14 service, or facility supported by the fee.
3-15 SECTION 1.04. Section 55.01, Education Code, is amended by
3-16 amending Subdivision (3) and adding Subdivision (4) to read as
3-17 follows:
3-18 (3) "Revenue funds" means the revenues, incomes,
3-19 receipts, rentals, rates, charges, fees, grants, and tuition levied
3-20 or collected from any public or private source by an institution of
3-21 higher education, including interest or other income from those
3-22 funds.
3-23 (4) "Bonds" means bonds, notes, or credit agreements a
3-24 board is authorized to enter into either by this title or by other
3-25 laws.
4-1 SECTION 1.05. Section 55.16, Education Code, is amended to
4-2 read as follows:
4-3 Sec. 55.16. BOARD RESPONSIBILITY [RENTALS, RATES, CHARGES,
4-4 AND FEES]. (a) Each board shall be authorized to fix and collect
4-5 rentals, rates, and charges[, and fees] from students and others
4-6 for the occupancy, services, use, and/or availability of all or any
4-7 of its property, buildings, structures, activities, operations, or
4-8 other facilities, in such amounts and in such manner as may be
4-9 determined by the board. If [; provided, however, that all student
4-10 use fees shall be fixed and collected in proportion to the number
4-11 of semester credit hours for which a student registers, and shall
4-12 not exceed the amount permitted by Subsection (b), except that
4-13 those schools charging more than $6 per semester hour as of May 1,
4-14 1975, shall not exceed the amount being charged as of that date.
4-15 The board may waive all or any part of any such student use fees in
4-16 the case of any student for whom the payment of such student use
4-17 fee would cause an undue economic hardship, except that the number
4-18 of such students for whom such waivers are granted shall not exceed
4-19 5% of the total enrollment; and further provided that nothing in
4-20 this section shall affect, limit, or impair any pledge, covenant,
4-21 or option made or reserved by the board with respect to any revenue
4-22 bonds outstanding as of the 1975 amendment to this section, issued
4-23 by the board pursuant to this chapter; and provided that hereafter
4-24 if] bonds have been or are issued pursuant to [Section 55.17 of]
4-25 this title [code], or secured or to be secured by a pledge of part
5-1 or all of the board's revenue funds [a limited or unlimited use
5-2 fee], and if, at the time of authorizing the issuance of the bonds,
5-3 (1) the estimated maximum amount per semester hour of such pledged
5-4 revenue funds [use fee] (based on then current enrollment and
5-5 conditions) during any future semester necessary to provide for the
5-6 payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds when due,
5-7 together with (2) the aggregate amount of all such pledged revenue
5-8 funds [use fees] which were levied on a semester hour basis for the
5-9 then current semester to pay the principal of and interest on all
5-10 previously issued bonds, do not exceed the amount permitted by this
5-11 title [Subsection (b)], then any necessary fees, tuition, rentals,
5-12 rates, or other charges constituting revenue funds [such limited or
5-13 unlimited use fee] shall be levied and collected when and to the
5-14 extent required by the resolution authorizing the issuance of the
5-15 bonds in any amount required to provide revenue funds sufficient
5-16 for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds,
5-17 regardless of any other provision or limitation provided by this
5-18 title [of this section or the limitations contained herein].
5-19 (b) [A board may not charge rentals, rates, charges, and
5-20 fees under this section in a total amount per semester credit hour
5-21 that exceeds the tuition rate per semester credit hour for a
5-22 resident student at a general academic teaching institution under
5-23 Subchapter B, Chapter 54, for the academic year in which the
5-24 rentals, rates, charges, and fees are charged.] A board is not
5-25 required to charge students enrolled in different degree programs
6-1 at the institution the same rentals, rates, charges, and fees under
6-2 this section.
6-3 [(c) A board that charges a rental, rate, charge, or fee
6-4 under this section may use the revenue for any purpose at the
6-5 institution at which the revenue is collected, subject to the laws
6-6 governing the institution and the board. This subsection does not
6-7 decrease the authority of a board of regents to enter into pledges
6-8 or covenants with respect to bonds, notes, or other obligations
6-9 under law existing before the effective date of this subsection.]
6-10 [(d) Before a board increases a rental, rate, charge, or fee
6-11 collected under this section at an institution under the direction,
6-12 management, and control of the board, the board or, if the board
6-13 directs, the chief executive officer of the institution must hold a
6-14 public hearing at the institution on the increase.]
6-15 SECTION 1.06. Subsection (d), Section 55.17, Education Code,
6-16 is repealed.
6-17 SECTION 1.07. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
6-18 amended by adding Section 61.0595 to read as follows:
6-19 Sec. 61.0595. FUNDING FOR CERTAIN EXCESS UNDERGRADUATE
6-20 CREDIT HOURS. (a) In the formulas established under Section
6-21 61.059, the board may not include funding for semester credit hours
6-22 earned by a resident undergraduate student who before the semester
6-23 or other academic session begins has previously attempted 170 or
6-24 more semester credit hours for courses taken at any institution of
6-25 higher education while classified as a resident student for tuition
7-1 purposes.
7-2 (b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a student enrolled in:
7-3 (1) two or more baccalaureate degree programs at the
7-4 same time;
7-5 (2) a double major degree program that requires 130 or
7-6 more semester credits for completion; or
7-7 (3) a health professional baccalaureate degree
7-8 program.
7-9 (c) For a student enrolled in a baccalaureate program under
7-10 Section 51.931, semester credit hours earned by the student 10 or
7-11 more years before the date the student begins the new degree
7-12 program under Section 51.931 are not counted for purposes of
7-13 determining whether the student has previously earned the number of
7-14 semester credit hours specified by Subsection (a).
7-15 (d) The following are not counted for purposes of
7-16 determining whether the student has previously earned the number of
7-17 semester credit hours specified by Subsection (a):
7-18 (1) semester credit hours earned by the student before
7-19 receiving a baccalaureate degree that has previously been awarded
7-20 to the student;
7-21 (2) semester credit hours earned by the student by
7-22 examination or under any other procedure by which credit is earned
7-23 without registering for a course for which tuition is charged;
7-24 (3) credit for a remedial education course or another
7-25 course that does not count toward a degree program at the
8-1 institution; and
8-2 (4) semester credit hours earned by the student at a
8-3 private institution or an out-of-state institution.
8-4 SECTION 1.08. Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
8-5 amended by adding Section 54.068 to read as follows:
8-6 Sec. 54.068. TUITION FOR EXCESSIVE UNDERGRADUATE HOURS. An
8-7 institution of higher education may charge a resident student
8-8 tuition at a higher rate than the rate charged to other resident
8-9 students, not to exceed the rate charged to nonresident students,
8-10 for a course for which Section 61.0595 requires the coordinating
8-11 board to exclude funding for the semester credit hours for which
8-12 the student registers if the student has previously attempted 170
8-13 or more semester credit hours. In its appropriations to
8-14 institutions of higher education, the legislature shall compute the
8-15 local funds available to each institution as if the tuition
8-16 collected under this section were not collected.
8-17 SECTION 1.09. Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
8-18 amended by adding Section 54.0065 to read as follows:
8-19 Sec. 54.0065. TUITION REBATE FOR CERTAIN UNDERGRADUATES.
8-20 (a) A qualified student is eligible for a rebate of a portion of
8-21 the undergraduate tuition the student has paid if the student:
8-22 (1) is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a general
8-23 academic teaching institution; and
8-24 (2) has attempted no more than three hours in excess
8-25 of the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete
9-1 the degree, including transfer credits and course credit earned
9-2 exclusively by examination.
9-3 (b) The amount of tuition to be rebated to a student under
9-4 this section is $1,000, unless the total amount of undergraduate
9-5 tuition paid by the student to the institution of higher education
9-6 awarding the degree was less than $1,000, in which event the amount
9-7 of tuition to be rebated is an amount equal to the amount of
9-8 undergraduate tuition paid by the student to the institution.
9-9 However, a student who paid the institution awarding the degree an
9-10 amount of undergraduate tuition less than $1,000 may qualify for an
9-11 increase in the amount of the rebate, not to exceed a total rebate
9-12 of $1,000, for any amount of undergraduate tuition the student paid
9-13 to other institutions of higher education by providing the
9-14 institution with proof of the total amount of that tuition paid to
9-15 other institutions of higher education.
9-16 (c) A student who has transferred from another institution
9-17 of higher education shall provide the institution awarding the
9-18 degree an official transcript from each institution attended by the
9-19 student in order that the total number of hours attempted by the
9-20 student can be verified.
9-21 (d) To qualify for a rebate under this section, the student
9-22 must have been a resident of this state and entitled to pay tuition
9-23 at the rate provided by this chapter for a resident student at all
9-24 times while pursuing the degree.
9-25 (e) All institutions of higher education shall notify each
10-1 first-time freshman student of the tuition rebate program.
10-2 (f) The institution awarding the degree shall pay the rebate
10-3 under this section from local funds.
10-4 (g) If a student entitled to a rebate under this section has
10-5 an outstanding student loan, including an emergency loan, owed or
10-6 guaranteed by this state, including the Texas Guaranteed Student
10-7 Loan Corporation, the institution shall apply the amount of the
10-8 rebate to the student's loan. If a student has more than one
10-9 outstanding loan, the institution shall apply the amount of the
10-10 rebate to the loans as directed by the student or, if the student
10-11 fails to provide timely instructions on the application of the
10-12 amount, the institution shall apply the amount of the rebate to the
10-13 loans according to priorities established by the coordinating
10-14 board. If the amount of the rebate exceeds the amount of the loan
10-15 indebtedness, the institution shall pay the student the excess
10-16 amount.
10-17 (h) The legislature shall account in the General
10-18 Appropriations Act for the rebates authorized by this section in a
10-19 way that provides a corresponding increase in the general revenue
10-20 funds appropriated to the institution. It is the intent of the
10-21 legislature that rebates authorized by this section shall be
10-22 financed by savings to the state resulting from reductions in the
10-23 number of courses taken by undergraduate students.
10-24 (i) The coordinating board, in consultation with the
10-25 institutions of higher education, shall adopt rules for the
11-1 administration of this section.
11-2 SECTION 1.10. Subsection (a), Section 54.5131, Education
11-3 Code, is amended to read as follows:
11-4 (a) The board of regents of The University of Texas System
11-5 may charge and collect from students registered at The University
11-6 of Texas at Austin a fee of $2 if approved by the students in a
11-7 student referendum [$1] for any semester or summer session. The
11-8 fee may be increased to an amount not to exceed $4 if approved by
11-9 the students in a student referendum. The fee may be used only for
11-10 funding an international education program [financial aid fund] to
11-11 be used to assist students participating in international student
11-12 exchange or study programs.
11-13 SECTION 1.11. Section 54.532, Education Code, is amended to
11-14 read as follows:
11-15 Sec. 54.532. STUDENT UNION BUILDING FEES; THE UNIVERSITY OF
11-16 TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO. (a) The board of regents of The University
11-17 of Texas System may levy a student union fee of not less than $20
11-18 or more than $75 for each semester or summer session, assessed in
11-19 proportion to the number of credit hours for which a student
11-20 registers, [not to exceed $30 per student for each regular semester
11-21 and not to exceed $15 per student for each term of the summer
11-22 session,] for the sole purpose of financing, [constructing,]
11-23 operating, maintaining, and improving a student union building for
11-24 The University of Texas at San Antonio. This fee may be levied in
11-25 addition to any other use or service fee. [Furthermore, the fee
12-1 may be levied only upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the
12-2 student body voting of The University of Texas at San Antonio.]
12-3 (b) The fees collected under Subsection (a) of this section
12-4 shall be deposited to an account known as The University of Texas
12-5 at San Antonio University Center Fee Account and shall be placed
12-6 under the control of and subject to the order of the university
12-7 center advisory committee. The committee shall annually submit to
12-8 the president of The University of Texas at San Antonio a complete
12-9 and itemized budget to be accompanied by a full and complete report
12-10 of all activities conducted during the past year and all
12-11 expenditures made incident to those activities. The president
12-12 shall submit the budget to the board of regents as part of the
12-13 institutional budget. The board of regents shall make such changes
12-14 in the budget as it deems necessary before approving the budget[,
12-15 but only after a student referendum has been called on the issue of
12-16 increase in the fee, and the issue has been approved by a majority
12-17 of the students voting in the election]. The board shall then levy
12-18 the fees, within the limits fixed in this section, in such amounts
12-19 as will be sufficient to meet the budgetary needs of the student
12-20 union building.
12-21 (c) The board may not increase the amount of the student
12-22 union fee by more than 10 percent in any academic year unless the
12-23 amount of the increase is approved by a majority of the students
12-24 voting in an election held for that purpose and by a majority of
12-25 the student government of the institution.
13-1 ARTICLE 2. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
13-2 SECTION 2.01. Subsection (a), Section 55.13, Education Code,
13-3 is amended to read as follows:
13-4 (a) For the purpose of providing funds to acquire, purchase,
13-5 construct, improve, enlarge, and/or equip any property, buildings,
13-6 structures, activities, services, operations, or other facilities,
13-7 for and on behalf of its institution or institutions, or any branch
13-8 or branches thereof, each board may issue its revenue bonds from
13-9 time to time and in one or more issue or series, to be payable from
13-10 and secured by liens on and pledges of all or any part of any of
13-11 the revenue funds [revenues, income, or receipts] of the board and
13-12 its institution or institutions, or any branch or branches of any
13-13 of its institutions [thereof, including, without limitation, any
13-14 rentals, rates, charges, fees, or other resources, in the manner
13-15 provided by this subchapter].
13-16 SECTION 2.02. Subsections (a), (b), and (c), Section 55.17,
13-17 Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
13-18 (a) Each board may pledge all or any part of its revenue
13-19 funds [revenues, income, or receipts from such rentals, rates,
13-20 charges, and/or fees, or other resources] to the payment of the
13-21 bonds, including the payment of principal, interest, and any other
13-22 amounts required or permitted in connection with the bonds. The
13-23 pledged revenue funds [rentals, rates, charges, and/or fees] shall
13-24 be fixed and collected in amounts that will be at least
13-25 sufficient[, together with any other pledged resources,] to provide
14-1 for all payments of principal, interest, and any other amounts
14-2 required in connection with the bonds and, to the extent required
14-3 by the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds, to provide
14-4 for the payment of expenses in connection with the bonds and for
14-5 the payment of operation, maintenance, and other expenses in
14-6 connection with the aforesaid property, buildings, structures,
14-7 activities, services, operations, or other facilities.
14-8 (b) Each board may establish and enforce parietal rules for
14-9 students and others, and enter into agreements regarding occupancy,
14-10 use, and availability of facilities, and the amounts and collection
14-11 of pledged revenue funds [revenues, income, receipts, rentals,
14-12 rates, charges, fees, or other resources,] that will assure making
14-13 all the required payments and deposits.
14-14 (c) Tuition, rentals, rates, and other charges of an
14-15 institution of higher education authorized by this title [Fees for
14-16 the use by or availability to the students of all or any property,
14-17 buildings, structures, activities, services, operations, or other
14-18 facilities,] may be pledged to the payment of the bonds[,] and
14-19 shall be fixed and collected from all or any designated part of the
14-20 students enrolled in the institution or institutions, or any branch
14-21 or branches thereof, in the amounts and in the manner as determined
14-22 and provided by the board in the resolution authorizing the
14-23 issuance of the bonds; and said tuition, rentals, rates, and other
14-24 charges [fees] may be collected in the full amounts required or
14-25 permitted herein, without regard to actual use, availability, or
15-1 existence of any facility, commencing at any time designated by the
15-2 board. [Said fees may be fixed and collected for the use or
15-3 availability of any specifically described property, buildings,
15-4 structures, activities, services, operations, or other facilities;
15-5 or said fees may be fixed and collected as general fees for the
15-6 general use or availability of the institution or institutions, or
15-7 any branch or branches thereof.] Such tuition, rentals, rates, and
15-8 other charges [specific and/or general fees] may be fixed and
15-9 collected, and pledged to the payment of any issue or series of
15-10 bonds issued by the board, in the full amounts required or
15-11 permitted herein, in addition to, and regardless of the existence
15-12 of, any other specific or general fees at the institution or
15-13 institutions, or any branch or branches thereof; provided that each
15-14 board may restrict its power to pledge such additional tuition,
15-15 rentals, rates, or other charges [specific or general fees] in any
15-16 manner that may be provided in any resolution authorizing the
15-17 issuance of bonds, and provided that no such additional tuition,
15-18 rentals, rates, or other charges [specific fees] shall be pledged
15-19 if prohibited by any resolution which authorized the issuance of
15-20 any then outstanding bonds.
15-21 SECTION 2.03. Section 55.24, Education Code, is amended to
15-22 read as follows:
15-23 Sec. 55.24. Pledges Under Previous Laws to Remain in Effect.
15-24 (a) Where any revenues, income, receipts, or other resources of
15-25 any board have been pledged to the payment of principal of and
16-1 interest on any bonds or notes issued and delivered pursuant to any
16-2 other law, the repeal of such law by virtue of the enactment of
16-3 Title 3 of this code shall not affect any such pledge or any
16-4 covenants with respect to such bonds or notes, or any bonds issued
16-5 to refund same, and all such pledges and covenants shall remain in
16-6 full force and effect in accordance with the terms and provisions
16-7 thereof.
16-8 (b) Where all or any part of the revenue funds of any board
16-9 have been pledged to the payment of the principal of and interest
16-10 on any bonds or notes or any other obligation issued or entered
16-11 into and delivered pursuant to any provision of this title or any
16-12 other law, the repeal or amendment of any provision of this title
16-13 shall not affect any such pledge or any covenants with respect to
16-14 such bonds, notes, or obligations or any bonds or notes issued to
16-15 refund same, and all such pledges and covenants shall remain in
16-16 full force and effect in accordance with the terms and provisions
16-17 thereof.
16-18 (c) In furtherance of the provisions of Subsection (b) and
16-19 in recognition that certain boards have outstanding bonds, notes,
16-20 and other obligations secured by various liens on the tuition or a
16-21 portion of the tuition charged and collected at certain
16-22 institutions and that the provisions of Chapter 54 would make it
16-23 difficult or impossible to identify and secure that portion of the
16-24 revised tuition charges pledged to the payment of such bonds,
16-25 notes, and obligations, net tuition, as defined in Section
17-1 51.009(c) and classified as educational and general funds by such
17-2 provision, shall be set aside and utilized first to satisfy the
17-3 obligations of each board secured by tuition in the order of
17-4 priority of the liens on such funds. It is further provided for
17-5 the benefit of the owners of such bonds and notes and the
17-6 counterparties to such obligations of the boards that the charges
17-7 per semester credit hour or for each semester or summer session, as
17-8 the case may be, for tuition constituting the educational and
17-9 general funds portion of tuition shall never be less than the
17-10 amount charged for the 1996-1997 academic year.
17-11 SECTION 2.04. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is
17-12 amended by adding Section 55.25 to read as follows:
17-13 Sec. 55.25. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW; CONFLICTS. Chapter
17-14 656, Acts of the 68th Legislature, Regular Session, 1983 (Article
17-15 717q, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), Chapter 3, Acts of the 61st
17-16 Legislature, Regular Session, 1969 (Article 717k-2, Vernon's Texas
17-17 Civil Statutes), the Bond Procedures Act of 1981 (Article 717k-6,
17-18 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), and Chapter 53, Acts of the 70th
17-19 Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 1987 (Article 717k-8, Vernon's
17-20 Texas Civil Statutes), apply to all bonds issued pursuant to this
17-21 chapter; provided, however, that in the event of any conflict
17-22 between such laws and this chapter, the provisions of this chapter
17-23 prevail.
18-1 ARTICLE 3. VALIDATION, SAVINGS, AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS;
18-2 EFFECTIVE DATE; EMERGENCY
18-3 SECTION 3.01. (a) All revenue bonds heretofore approved by
18-4 the attorney general and registered by the comptroller of public
18-5 accounts, or authorized by proceedings approved by the attorney
18-6 general, which were issued, sold, and delivered or entered into by
18-7 any governing board of an institution of higher education and which
18-8 are payable from or secured by a pledge of any revenues, income,
18-9 receipts, or other resources of such board, are hereby validated in
18-10 all respects, together with all proceedings authorizing the
18-11 issuance thereof, and said bonds and proceedings are and shall be
18-12 valid and binding obligations in accordance with their terms and
18-13 conditions for all purposes, as though they had been duly and
18-14 legally issued or entered into and authorized originally.
18-15 (b) Nothing in this Act limits or impairs any pledge or
18-16 covenant made by the governing board of an institution of higher
18-17 education with respect to any bond or note issued before the
18-18 effective date of this Act.
18-19 (c) The provisions of Subsection (b), Section 55.24,
18-20 Education Code, as added by Section 2.03 of this Act, regarding the
18-21 effect of an amendment or a repeal on a pledge or covenant made by
18-22 the governing board of an institution of higher education apply to
18-23 any such amendment or repeal made by this Act.
18-24 SECTION 3.02. (a) This Act takes effect August 1, 1997, if
18-25 this Act may take effect on that date under Section 39, Article
19-1 III, Texas Constitution. Otherwise, this Act takes effect
19-2 September 1, 1997.
19-3 (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
19-4 changes in law made by this Act apply beginning with tuition and
19-5 fees charged for the 1997 fall semester. Section 54.068, Education
19-6 Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with tuition charged
19-7 for the 1999 fall semester. Section 54.0065, Education Code, as
19-8 added by this Act, applies only to students entering a
19-9 baccalaureate degree program on or after September 1, 1997.
19-10 Section 61.0595, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies to
19-11 funding beginning with the 1999 fall semester.
19-12 SECTION 3.03. The importance of this legislation and the
19-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
19-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
19-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
19-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
19-17 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
19-18 terms, and it is so enacted.
S.B. No. 1907
________________________________ ________________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1907 passed the Senate on
April 29, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0;
May 28, 1997, Senate refused to concur in House amendment and
requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 29, 1997, House
granted request of the Senate; May 31, 1997, Senate adopted
Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 30,
Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1907 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 23, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 145,
Nays 0, two present not voting; May 29, 1997, House granted request
of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
June 1, 1997, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, two present not voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
________________________________
Date
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Governor