1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to authorizing The University of Texas at Austin to
 1-3     establish a flat rate tuition pilot project for certain
 1-4     undergraduate students.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 54.069 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 54.069.  FLAT RATE TUITION PILOT PROJECT. (a)  In this
 1-9     section, "tuition" means all academic program costs related to
1-10     enrollment in an academic course or degree program that are charged
1-11     to a student, including all charges designated as tuition,
1-12     mandatory fees, and incidental fees.  The term does not include
1-13     voluntary fees.
1-14           (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the
1-15     board of regents of The University of Texas System may establish a
1-16     pilot project at The University of Texas at Austin involving not
1-17     more than two colleges or degree programs designated by the board
1-18     of regents under which the university charges the same amount of
1-19     tuition to all undergraduate students enrolled in a college or
1-20     degree program included in the pilot project.
1-21           (c)  The board of regents may not require a full-time student
1-22     who pays tuition under the pilot project to pay more tuition than
1-23     the average amount of tuition that a student not included in the
1-24     pilot project would pay for enrolling in the university for 14
 2-1     semester credit hours for the same semester or term.
 2-2           (d)  The board of regents shall evaluate the effect of flat
 2-3     rate tuition charged under the pilot project on the number of
 2-4     semester credit hours taken by students included in the project
 2-5     each semester.  The board shall report the results of the
 2-6     evaluation to the legislature not later than December 31, 2002, and
 2-7     December 31, 2004.
 2-8           (e)  This section expires September 1, 2005.
 2-9           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-10     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-11     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-12     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-13     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3524 was passed by the House on April
         26, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3524 was passed by the Senate on May
         17, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor