BILL ANALYSIS
By: Shapiro
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, the governing board of a community college district sets the college's tuition and fee structure, but does not have the authority to set different tuition rates for programs and courses. By allowing the flexibility of differential tuition, community colleges would have the authority to consider tuition rates appropriate to increase completion rates, encourage efficient use of facilities, and enhance employee performance.
C.S.S.B. 532 gives the governing board of a public junior college the authority to set different tuition rates for programs, courses, or course levels offered by the institution.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 130.003 (b), Education Code, to allow a public junior college to collect fees in the amount required by law or in the amounts set by the governing board of the junior college district as authorized by this title.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 130.084, Education Code, to authorize the governing board of a public junior college to set a different tuition rate under certain conditions.
SECTION 3. States that this Act applies beginning with tuition charged for the 2005 fall semester.
SECTION 4. Effective date:
EFFECTIVE DATE
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, 2005.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute makes non-substantive changes and conforming changes by moving the placement of the proposed language to a different section of the Education Code.