By Dutton                                             H.B. No. 2547
         77R4365 KEL-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to an exemption from or refund of tuition and fees for
 1-3     certain lower-division students enrolled at Texas Southern
 1-4     University and Prairie View A&M University.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 54.220 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 54.220.  EXEMPTION FOR LOWER-DIVISION STUDENTS AT
 1-9     CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a)  An entering freshman
1-10     student enrolled at Texas Southern University or Prairie View A&M
1-11     University is entitled to a refund of tuition and required fees
1-12     paid by the student under this chapter for the first semester or
1-13     term for which the student enrolls at that university if the
1-14     student:
1-15                 (1)  graduated from a private high school, including a
1-16     home school, or a public high school in this state;
1-17                 (2)  is classified as a Texas resident under Subchapter
1-18     B; and
1-19                 (3)  for all courses attempted that initial semester or
1-20     term earns a grade point average of at least 2.0 on a four-point
1-21     scale or the equivalent.
1-22           (b)  To receive a refund under Subsection (a), the student
1-23     must apply to the university in the manner required by the
1-24     university not later than the first anniversary of the last class
 2-1     day of the semester or term.
 2-2           (c)  A student enrolled at Texas Southern University or
 2-3     Prairie View A&M University is exempt from the payment of tuition
 2-4     and required fees authorized by this chapter for a semester or term
 2-5     of the student's first two academic years, other than a semester or
 2-6     term covered by Subsection (a), at that university if the student:
 2-7                 (1)  graduated from a private high school, including a
 2-8     home school, or a public high school in this state;
 2-9                 (2)  is classified as a Texas resident under Subchapter
2-10     B; and
2-11                 (3)  maintains an overall grade-point average of at
2-12     least 2.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent for all prior
2-13     coursework attempted at the university.
2-14           (d)  A student receiving an exemption under this section for
2-15     one or more semesters or terms may not enroll for the student's
2-16     third academic year at the university until the student passes an
2-17     examination to be selected and administered by the university.
2-18           (e)  A university to which this section applies may fund
2-19     tuition and fee refunds and exemptions under this section from
2-20     local funds or from funds appropriated to the university.  The
2-21     university is not required to provide tuition and fee refunds or
2-22     exemptions beyond those funded through state appropriations
2-23     specifically designated for this purpose.
2-24           (f)  A person may not receive a refund or exemption under
2-25     this section for a semester or term that begins after the 2020-2021
2-26     academic year.  This section expires September 1, 2022.
2-27           SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with tuition and fees
 3-1     charged for the 2001 fall semester.
 3-2           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 3-3     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 3-4     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 3-5     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 3-6     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.