1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a pilot project for reduced tuition rates at certain
 1-3     public junior colleges.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 130.0033 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 130.0033.  PILOT PROJECT: REDUCED TUITION FOR CERTAIN
 1-8     COURSES. (a)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
 1-9     establish a pilot project to measure the impact of reducing tuition
1-10     for junior college courses offered at times of low enrollment
1-11     demand in order to promote greater access to higher education and
1-12     more efficient use of junior college facilities and resources.  The
1-13     coordinating board shall select a reasonable number of public
1-14     junior colleges to participate in the pilot project.
1-15           (b)  The governing board of a public junior college selected
1-16     to participate in the pilot project may charge tuition for a course
1-17     or courses at a rate established by the governing board that is
1-18     less than the rate otherwise required by Section 54.051 or other
1-19     law if the governing board finds that the reduced tuition rate is
1-20     reasonably necessary to enable the junior college to make efficient
1-21     use of its facilities or faculty.  The finding must be stated in
1-22     the order or resolution establishing the reduced tuition rate.
1-23           (c)  Charging tuition at a reduced rate under this section
1-24     does not affect the right of the public junior college to a
 2-1     proportionate share of state appropriations under Section 130.003
 2-2     for the contact hours attributable to students paying tuition at
 2-3     the reduced rate.
 2-4           (d)  The governing board of each public junior college
 2-5     participating in the pilot project shall prepare a report on the
 2-6     effects of the reduced tuition on enrollment, facilities,
 2-7     scheduling, and costs and shall deliver a copy of the report to the
 2-8     coordinating board not later than October 30, 2002.
 2-9           (e)  The coordinating board shall prepare a report compiling
2-10     the results of the pilot project at the public junior colleges
2-11     participating in the pilot project and shall submit a copy of the
2-12     report not later than December 15, 2002, to the governor, the
2-13     lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
2-14     and the chair of the standing committee of each house of the
2-15     legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education.
2-16           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately if it
2-17     receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
2-18     house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
2-19     If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
2-20     effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-21           (b)  The pilot project under Section 130.0033, Education
2-22     Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2001 fall
2-23     semester.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1465 was passed by the House on April
         10, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1465 was passed by the Senate on May
         10, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor