78R1033 JSA-D

By:  Williams                                                     S.B. No. 723



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to tuition rebates to certain undergraduate students who 
graduate from an institution of higher education without excessive 
semester credit hours.  
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 54.0065(a), Education Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  A qualified student is eligible for a rebate of a 
portion of the undergraduate tuition the student has paid if the 
student:
		(1)  is awarded a baccalaureate degree from a general 
academic teaching institution;  and
		(2)  has attempted no more than three hours in excess of 
the minimum number of semester credit hours required to complete 
the degree, including:
			(A)  transfer credits; and                                     
			(B)  course credit earned exclusively by 
examination, except that, for purposes of this subsection, only the 
number of semester credit hours earned exclusively by examination 
in excess of nine semester credit hours is treated as hours 
attempted.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act to Section 
54.0065, Education Code, applies only to a student who graduates 
from an institution of higher education on or after the effective 
date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.