SRC-CTC, MWN H.B. 1465 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1465
77R8472 JSA-FBy: Kitchen (Barrientos)
Education
4/29/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the governing board of a public community college is not
permitted to offer different tuition rates for different class times.  Some
community college administrators believe that the ability to offer reduced
tuition rates for certain classes would allow a better utilization of
resources and a more efficient use of facilities.  H.B. 1465 requires the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish a pilot project to
measure the impact of reducing tuition rates for junior college courses at
times of low enrollment demand.  This provides a means for these schools to
serve as many students as possible and to make the best possible use of
limited facilities by encouraging students to take advantage of courses
offered att off-peak times. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 130A, Education Code, by adding Section 130.0033,
as follows: 

Sec. 130.0033. PILOT PROJECT: REDUCED TUITION FOR CERTAIN COURSES. (a)
Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to establish
a pilot program to measure the impact of reducing tuition for junior
college courses offered at times of low enrollment demand in order to
promote greater access to higher education and more efficient use of junior
college facilities and resources. Requires the board to select a reasonable
number of public junior colleges to participate in the pilot project. 

(b) Authorizes the governing board of a public junior college selected to
participate in the pilot project to charge tuition for a course or courses
at a rate established by the governing board that is less than the rate
otherwise required by Section 54.051 or other law if the governing board
finds that the reduced tuition rate is reasonably necessary to enable the
junior college to make efficient use of its facilities or faculty. Requires
the finding to be stated in the order or resolution establishing the
reduced tuition rate. 

(c) Provides that charging tuition at a rate under this section does not
effect the right of the public junior college to a proportionate share of
state appropriations under Section 130.003 for the contact hours
attributable to students paying tuition at the reduced rate. 

(d) Requires the governing board of each public junior college
participating in the pilot project to prepare a report on the effects of
the reduced tuition pertaining to certain criteria and to deliver a copy of
the report to the board not later than October 30, 2002. 

(e) Requires the board to prepare a report pertaining to certain criteria
an to deliver the report to certain persons not later than December 15,
2002. 
 
SECTION 2. (a) Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.

(b) Provides that Section 130.0033, Education Code, applies beginning with
the 2001 fall semester.