By:  Gonzales, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa)                 H.B. No. 993
	(In the Senate - Filed April 11, 2005; April 12, 2005, read 
first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher Education; 
May 9, 2005, reported favorably to Committee on Education; 
May 16, 2005, reported favorably from Committee on Education by the 
following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 16, 2005, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the installment payment of tuition and fees charged by a 
public junior college, public technical institute, or public state 
college for a summer term.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 54.007, Education Code, is amended by 
amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (f) to read 
as follows:
	(b)  The governing board of each institution of higher 
education may permit [for] the payment of tuition and fees during a 
[12-week] summer term [and a 16-week summer term] through the 
following alternatives:
		(1)  for a student enrolled for a [12-week] summer term 
of 12 weeks or longer that is not covered by Subdivision (2), 
one-half payment of tuition and fees in advance of the beginning of 
the summer term, one-quarter payment before the beginning of the 
fifth class week, and the final one-quarter payment before the 
beginning of the ninth class week; [or]
		(2)  for a student enrolled for a [16-week] summer term 
of 16 weeks or longer, one-half payment of tuition and fees in 
advance of the beginning of the summer term, one-quarter payment 
before the beginning of the sixth class week, and the final 
one-quarter payment before the beginning of the 11th class week; 
and
		(3)  for a student enrolled for a summer term not 
covered by Subdivision (1) or (2) in a public junior college, public 
technical institute, or public state college, one-half payment of 
tuition and fees in advance of the beginning of the summer term and 
the remaining amount in one or two later payments to be made in the 
percentages and by the dates determined by the governing board of 
the college or institute, provided that the final payment must be 
made before the beginning of the last week of the summer term.
	(c)  The governing board may assess and collect incidental 
fees for students utilizing the payment alternative authorized by
[(2) under] Subsection (a)(2) and the alternatives authorized by
[(1) and (2) under] Subsection (b) [of this section] and for 
students delinquent in payments.  The fees must reasonably reflect 
the cost to the institution of handling those payments.
	(f)  In this section, "public junior college," "public 
technical institute," and "public state college" have the meanings 
assigned by Section 61.003.
	SECTION 2.  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 on the 91st day after the last day of the 
legislative session.



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