By Dunnam H.B. No. 1212
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to installment payments of tuition and fees by a student
1-3 enrolled for a summer session at a public institution of higher
1-4 education.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 54.007, Education Code, is amended by
1-7 amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection (e) to
1-8 read as follows:
1-9 (b) The governing board of each institution of higher
1-10 education may permit for the payment of tuition and fees during a
1-11 12-week summer term and a 16-week summer term through the following
1-12 alternatives:
1-13 (1) for a student enrolled for a 12-week summer term,
1-14 one-half payment of tuition and fees in advance of the beginning of
1-15 the summer term, one-quarter payment before the beginning of the
1-16 fifth class week, and the final one-quarter payment before the
1-17 beginning of the ninth class week; or
1-18 (2) for a student enrolled for a 16-week summer term,
1-19 one-half payment of tuition and fees in advance of the beginning of
1-20 the summer term, one-quarter payment before the beginning of the
1-21 sixth class week, and the final one-quarter payment before the
1-22 beginning of the 11th class week.
1-23 (c) The governing board may assess and collect incidental
1-24 fees for students utilizing payment alternative (2) under
2-1 Subsection (a) and alternatives (1) and (2) under Subsection (b) of
2-2 this section and for students delinquent in payments. The fees
2-3 must reasonably reflect the cost to the institution of handling
2-4 those payments.
2-5 (d) [(c)] A student who fails to make full payment of
2-6 tuition and fees, including any incidental fees, by the due date
2-7 may be prohibited from registering for classes until full payment
2-8 is made. A student who fails to make payment prior to the end of
2-9 the semester may be denied credit for the work done that semester.
2-10 The governing board may not impose on a student any sanction
2-11 authorized by this subsection unless the governing board includes
2-12 in any promissory note signed by a student the following statement
2-13 printed in bold-faced type or in capital letters: "A STUDENT WHO
2-14 FAILS TO MAKE FULL PAYMENT OF TUITION AND FEES, INCLUDING ANY
2-15 INCIDENTAL FEES, BY THE DUE DATE MAY BE PROHIBITED FROM REGISTERING
2-16 FOR CLASSES UNTIL FULL PAYMENT IS MADE. A STUDENT WHO FAILS TO MAKE
2-17 PAYMENT PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SEMESTER MAY BE DENIED CREDIT FOR
2-18 THE WORK DONE THAT SEMESTER." The governing board shall notify a
2-19 student of any delinquent tuition or fee payment as soon as
2-20 practicable. The institution's records may be adjusted to reflect
2-21 the student's failure to have properly enrolled for that semester.
2-22 (e) [(d)] In addition to other payment alternatives provided
2-23 by this section, the governing board of a medical and dental unit
2-24 or of a general academic teaching institution with a department or
2-25 college of veterinary medicine may provide for the payment of
2-26 tuition and fees at the unit or at the department or college of
2-27 veterinary medicine during any academic year through a one-fourth
3-1 payment of tuition and fees in advance of the beginning of the year
3-2 and subsequent one-fourth payments of tuition and fees to be made
3-3 at periods designated by the governing board. Subsection (b) of
3-4 this section applies to tuition and fee payments under this
3-5 subsection. In this subsection, "general academic teaching
3-6 institution" and "medical and dental unit" have the meanings
3-7 assigned by Section 61.003 of this code.
3-8 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
3-9 to tuition and fees charged for a semester or summer session that
3-10 begins on or after the effective date of this Act.
3-11 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-12 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-13 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-14 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-15 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.