SRC-CTC, MKV S.B. 1466 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1466
By: Bivins
Education
3/20/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In 1985, the Legislature began increasing tuition in small increments.  Due
to the decreasing role of public revenue as a percentage of total
university revenue, public institutions of higher education have had to
rely more on tuition revenue and less on general revenue to cover certain
costs.  As proposed, S.B. 1466 increases the tuition rate charged to
students in accordance with the incremental increases proposed by the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board. 

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 Section 54.051, Education Code, to provide that, unless
a different rate is specified by this section, tuition for a resident
student at a general academic teaching institution is $60 per semester
credit hour.  Deletes language providing that the tuition be the greater of
$120 for each semester or 12-week summer session and $60 for each six-week
summer term or $40 per semester credit hour. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 54.0512, Education Code, by amending Subsections
(b) [through] (h), as follows: 

(b) Sets forth the tuition for a resident student at a general academic
teaching institution for the 2001-2002 academic year through the 2011-2012
academic year and deletes the provisions for tuition for the 1994-1995
academic year through the 2000-2001 academic year.   

Deletes Subsections (c)-(h) relating to certain tuition rates for the
1985-1986 academic year through the 1988-1989 academic year. 

Redesignates Subsection (h) as Subsection (c) and changes the expiration
date of the section from January 1, 2002, to January 1, 2013. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 54.0513, Education Code, to authorize the
governing board of an institution of higher education to charge as tuition
in any academic year an amount not to exceed the amount charged under
Sections 54.051 or 54.0512, as applicable, in the particular academic year.
Deletes language relating to maximum amounts that can be charged for
tuition. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Chapter 54[C], Education Code, by adding Section 54.069,
as follows: 

[Note: Subchapter C, Chapter 54, Education Code, was repealed by Acts of
the 71st Legislature, Chapter 1084, Section 4.01(2), 1989.]  

Sec. 54.069.  BILLING AND NOTIFICATION FOR TUITION.  Requires each board,
for  billing and catalogue purposes, to accumulate all the tuition that it
charges under this subchapter into one tuition charge. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 56.053, Education Code, to change the language
in Subsection (a)(3) to prohibit the maximum loan amount per student from
being greater, rather than less, than an amount equal to the tuition and
required fees for the courses in which the student is actually enrolling. 

SECTION 6. Provides that this Act applies beginning with tuition charges
imposed for the fall semester, 2002. 

SECTION 7.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.