By Hochberg                                           H.B. No. 3524
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to authorizing the board of regents of the University of
 1-3     Texas System to establish a pilot project for certain students
 1-4     enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act:
 1-7                 (1)  "Board" means the board of regents of the
 1-8     University of Texas System.
 1-9                 (2)  "Flat rate tuition" includes tuition, designated
1-10     tuition and mandatory fees that the university can charge to a
1-11     student, but do not include incidental or voluntary fees.
1-12                 (3)  "Pilot project" means a flat rate tuition program.
1-13                 (4)  "University" means the University of Texas at
1-14     Austin.
1-15           SECTION 2.  PILOT PROJECT. The board may establish a pilot
1-16     project that will apply to not more than ten percent (10%) of the
1-17     total full-time student equivalents enrolled in undergraduate
1-18     degree programs at the university.
1-19           SECTION 3.  BOARD AUTHORITY TO SET FLAT RATE TUITION. (a)
1-20     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may establish
1-21     flat rate tuition to be charged to all non-resident and resident
1-22     undergraduate students who are enrolled in colleges or schools at
1-23     the university that are specified by the board.
 2-1           (b)  The flat rate tuition established by the board may not
 2-2     require a full-time student to pay more than an amount equal to the
 2-3     average amount of tuition, designated tuition and mandatory fees
 2-4     that a student would have paid for enrolling in the university for
 2-5     twelve (12) semester credit hours under provisions of the Education
 2-6     Code that would apply to a student on the date of enrollment were
 2-7     it not for the establishment of the flat rate tuition pilot
 2-8     project.
 2-9           SECTION 4.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. (a)  Subject to other
2-10     limits provided by this Act, the flat rate tuition pilot project
2-11     will apply to all students enrolled in a college or school that is
2-12     designated by the board.
2-13           SECTION 5.  EVALUATION. The board shall evaluate the effect
2-14     of flat rate tuition on the number of semester credit hours taken
2-15     by students in the project each semester.  The board shall report
2-16     the results of the evaluation to the Legislature on or before
2-17     December 31, 2002.
2-18           SECTION 6.  EXPIRATION DATE. This section expires September
2-19     1, 2003.
2-20           SECTION 7.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect immediately
2-21     if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to
2-22     each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
2-23     Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
2-24     immediate effect, this Act takes effect september 1, 2001.