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.