SRC-TAG H.B. 1621 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 1621
By: Flores (West, Royce)
Education
5/23/2003
Committee Report (Amended)

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In 1995, the 74th Texas Legislature authorized the boards of public
community colleges to waive tuition for high school students participating
in concurrent enrollment programs.  Since that time a limited number of
districts  have made the decision to provide the waiver.  A reason for
this limited participation by community colleges is that the 1995 statute
provides for an all or nothing decision on granting the waiver.  H.B. 1621
amends the statute to authorize community colleges to waive all or part of
both tuition and fees, and clarifies that tuition and fees are eligible
for waiver. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 130.008(b) and (c), Education Code, as follows:

(b)  Authorizes a junior college to waive all or part of the tuition and
fees for a high school student enrolled in a course for which the student
may receive joint credit under this section. Makes a nonsubstantive
change.  

 (c)  Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003. 

  

LIST OF COMMITTEE  AMENDMENTS

Amend H.B. 1621 by adding the following sections.

SECTION  __: Chapter 130.123(e), Education Code, is amended to read as
follows: 

Sec.  130.123(e)  In addition to the revenues, fees, and other resources
authorized to be pledged to the payment of bonds issued hereunder, each
board further shall be authorized to pledge irrevocably to such payment,
out of the tuition charges required or permitted by law to be imposed at
its institution or institutions, an amount not excedding [$15] 25 percent
of the tuition charges collected from each enrolled student for each
[regular] semester or [and $7.50 from each enrolled student for each
summer ] term, and each board also shall be authorized to pledge to such
payment all or any part of any grant, donation, or income received or to
be received from the United States government or any other public or
private sources, whether pursuant to an agreement or otherwise. 

SECTION __: Chapter 56.033(a), Education Code, is amended to read as
follows: 

Sec.  56.033(a)  The governing board of each institution of higher
education, including the Texas State  Technical College System, shall
cause to be set aside: 

(1)  not less than 15 percent nor more than 20 percent out of each
resident student's tuition charge under Section 54.051 as provided by the
General Appropriations Act for applicable academic year; 

(2)  three percent out of each nonresident student's tuition charge under
Section 54.051; 

(3)  not less than six percent nor more than 20 percent out of each
resident student's hourly tuition charge exclusive of out of district
charges, and $1.50 out of each nonresident student's hourly tuition
charge, for academic courses at a public community or junior college; and  

(4)  not less than six percent not more than 20 percent of hourly tuition
charges exclusive of out of district charges for vocational-technical
courses at a public community or junior college.