HBA-EDN, CBW H.B. 3524 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3524
By: Hochberg
Higher Education
7/17/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Students who attend institutions 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.  House Bill 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

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3524 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of regents
of The University of Texas System (board) to establish a  flat rate tuition
pilot project (project) at The University of Texas at Austin (university)
involving not more than two colleges or degree programs designated by the
board under which the university charges the same amount of tuition to all
undergraduate students enrolled in a college or degree program included in
the project.  The bill prohibits the board from requiring a full-time
student who pays tuition under the project to pay more tuition than the
average amount of tuition that a student not included in the project would
pay for enrolling in the university for 14 semester credit hours for the
same semester or term. 

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

The provisions of the bill expire September 1, 2005.

EFFECTIVE DATE

June 11, 2001.