SRC-MWN H.B. 3524 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3524
By: Hochberg (Zaffirini)
Education
5/4/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, students who attend an institution of higher education
(institution) are charged tuition and fees based on the number of semester
credit hours taken. The differing rate charges for students who take more
than twelve semester credit hours could cause confusion among students and
parents. A simplified and more uniform tuition rate may create more of an
incentive for students to take heavier course loads and move more quickly
towards graduation, while addressing the differing tuition rate fee
structures in various degree programs within the institution. H.B. 3524
authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System to
establish a flat rate tuition pilot project at The University of Texas at
Austin within a specified period that applies to all undergraduate students
enrolled in a college or degree program included in the pilot project.  

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 54B, Education Code, by adding Section 54.069, as
follows: 

 Sec. 54.069.  FLAT RATE TUITION PILOT PROJECT. (a)  Defines "tuition."
 
(b) Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System
(board), notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, to establish
a pilot project at The University of Texas at Austin involving not more
than two colleges or degree programs designated by the board of regents
under which the university charges the same amount of tuition to all
undergraduate students enrolled in a college or degree program included in
the pilot project. 

(c)  Prohibits the board from requiring a full-time student who pays
tuition under the pilot project to pay more tuition than the average amount
of tuition that a student not included in the pilot project would pay for
enrolling in the university for 14 semester credit hours for the same
semester or term. 

(d)  Requires the board to evaluate the effect of flat rate tuition charged
under the pilot project on the number of semester credit hours taken by
students included in the project each semester.  Requires the board to
report the results of the evaluation to the legislature not later than
December 31, 2002, and December 31, 2004. 

  (e)  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2005.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.