SRC-AXB H.B. 1882 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1882
By: Naishtat (Haywood)
Education
5/11/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, resident doctoral students are only allowed to enroll in 99
semester credit hours while paying the in-state tuition rate.  This funding
cap was originally designed to encourage students to complete their degrees
in a timely fashion; however, students who require more than 99 semester
credit hours to complete their programs can be financially penalized.  H.B.
1882 sets forth appropriation requirements for the legislature, requires
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish exceptions for
semester credit hour limitations which effect funding formulas. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1882 sets forth appropriation requirements for the
legislature, requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to
establish exceptions for semester credit hour limitations which effect
funding formulas. 

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 54.066, Education Code, to require the
legislature, in its process of making appropriations to institutions of
higher education, to compute local funds which are available to each
institution as if the tuition collected under this section were not
collected.  Deletes text regarding tuition. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 61.059(1), Education Code, to authorize the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish certain
exception guidelines for doctoral students who exceed a certain number of
semester credit hours.  Requires THECB to approve formula funding for
certain doctoral students, so that the funding does not directly depend on
certain tuition payments. Requires each institution to inform each new
enrolling doctoral student, in writing, of certain course hour limitations.
Provides that Subdivision (1) does not apply to funding for a student who
enrolls prior to the 1999 fall semester.  Requires THECB to include funding
for a doctoral student described by this subdivision, in the formulas
established under this section, without consideration of Subdivision (1).
Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

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