SRC-MWN H.B. 152 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 152
By: Brown, Fred (Ogden)
Education
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, undergraduate tuition rates are uniform for the spring,
summer, and fall sessions at Texas institutions of higher education. In
Texas, more classes are taken during the fall and spring semesters than
during the summer session. Because financial aid is usually packaged on a
nine-month, two-semester basis, there is not as much financial aid
available for summer session students. Many Texas students spend more than
five years obtaining a bachelors degree, so an incentive to take a larger
course load during a summer session could decrease the time it takes most
students to earn a degree. Students who graduate in an expedient manner
incur less debt and create less of a financial burden to the state. H.B.
152 creates a special summer tuition rate pilot program for certain
students enrolled for a summer term or session at Texas A&M University and
Texas A&M University--Kingsville.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority
to a state officer, agency, or institution.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 54B, Education Code, by adding Section 54.0514,
as follows: Creates a special summer tuition rate pilot program for a
resident undergraduate student enrolled for a summer term or session at
Texas A&M University or Texas A&M University--Kingsville (institutions) and
to provide that tuition, other than the building use fee redesignated as
tuition, is one-half of the amount that would otherwise be charged. The
bill prohibits the governing board of an institution from charging the
building use fee redesignated as tuition to a student in an amount in
excess of one-half of the amount the governing board would otherwise be
authorized to charge to the student. The Act applies to the institutions
only if the legislature specifically appropriates money to the institution
for the state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2003, to cover the tuition
revenue lost to the institution by the application of the Act. The Act
applies only to a summer term or session in 2002 or 2003. These provisions
expire January 1, 2004. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2001.