LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 6, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Irma Rangel, Chair, House Committee on Higher
               Education
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2531  by Junell (Relating to tuition rates at public
               institutions of higher education.), Committee Report 1st
               House, Substituted
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB2531, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted:  positive impact     *
*  of $26,032,628 through the biennium ending August 31, 2003.           *
*                                                                        *
*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                                   $0  *
          *       2003                           26,032,628  *
          *       2004                           52,065,256  *
          *       2005                           78,097,884  *
          *       2006                          104,130,512  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
***************************************************************************
*Fiscal    Probable Savings/(Cost) from    Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss)   *
* Year         General Revenue Fund            from Estimated Other       *
*                      0001               Educational and General Income  *
*                                             Account/ GR-Dedicated       *
*                                                      0770               *
*  2002                                $0                              $0 *
*  2003                        26,032,628                      26,032,628 *
*  2004                        52,065,256                      52,065,256 *
*  2005                        78,097,884                      78,097,884 *
*  2006                       104,130,512                     104,130,512 *
***************************************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill increases the resident tuition rate charged by  general academic
teaching institutions (universities) by $2.00 per semester credit hour
each academic year from 2003 until 2007 and by $1.00 per semester credit
hour each academic year from 2008 until 2012.  The maximum rate in 2012
would be $55.00.  The current rate is $40.00 per semester credit hour.

The bill authorizes universities to charge an additional amount for
designated tuition (formerly called "building use fee") equal to the
rates above.  These amounts would be considered institutional funds.

The bill would remove the current minimum tuition charge of $120 for each
semester.
  
  
Methodology
  
Based on information provided by universities in their Legislative
Appropriation Request, the estimated increase in tuition revenue for
fiscal year 2003 is $26,032,628.  This amount does not include any
adjustments for projected changes in enrollment.  Based on the
methodology used for tuition exemption fiscal notes, it is assumed that
additional tuition revenue as result of the increases above $40 per
semester credit hour would result in a corresponding decrease in general
revenue appropriations to the universities.

Universities would also realize additional revenue for increases in
designated tuition rates (formerly called building use fee).  However,
these amounts are not appropriated and would not impact General Revenue.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   769   University of North Texas System
LBB Staff:         JK, CT, DB