BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 530
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 3015, passed by the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, authorized the governing board of an institution of higher education to set designated tuition rates. Subsequent increases in tuition from one semester to the next have resulted in unpredictability for students, limiting their ability to budget for the cost of higher education. As proposed, S.B. 530 requires institutions of higher education to provide a fixed tuition rate for students who meet certain conditions relating to course loads, grade point averages, and time to degree completion.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 54.0011, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, by adding Section 54.011, as follows:
Sec. 54.011. FIXED TUITION RATE FOR SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND PERFORMANCE. (a) Defines "coordinating board" and "general academic teaching institution."
(b) Prohibits the governing board of a general academic teaching institution, except as otherwise provided by this section, in an academic semester or term, from charging tuition under Section 54.0513 (Designated Tuition), or under any other law granting the institution discretion to set the tuition rate, at a rate that exceeds the rate the institution charged the student during the first semester or other academic term the student enrolled in the institution if the student meets certain criteria.
(c) Provides that Subsection (b) does not apply to a student enrolled in a general academic teaching institution who meets certain criteria.
(d) Requires each general academic teaching institution to notify each entering undergraduate student of the eligibility requirements for a fixed tuition rate under this section.
(e) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board), in consultation with the general academic teaching institutions, to adopt any rules the board considers appropriate for the administration of this section, including rules necessary for purposes of Subsection (f).
(f) Requires the board to adopt rules requiring a general academic teaching institution to provide a fixed tuition rate under this section to a student who satisfies the other requirements of this section but, solely as a result of a hardship or other good cause shown as determined by board rule, is unable to satisfy the requirements of Subsection (b)(2), (4), or (5).
(g) Provides that this section is inapplicable to a student who transfers from one institution of higher education to another.
(h) Provides that this section is inapplicable to a student who enters a general academic teaching institution for the first time before the 2006 fall semester. Provides that this subsection expires January 1, 2012.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.