79R11526 KEL-D


By:  Morrison                                                     H.B. No. 1214

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1214:                                   

By:  Dawson                                                   C.S.H.B. No. 1214



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to tuition and other charges and fees imposed by the 
governing board of a junior college district.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 54.002, Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	Sec. 54.002.  APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER.  The provisions of 
this chapter apply to all institutions of higher education, except 
that as to junior colleges this chapter applies only to the extent 
provided by Chapter 130 or to the extent that a provision of this 
chapter expressly applies to junior colleges [Section 130.003(b) of 
this code].
	SECTION 2.  Section 54.051(n), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(n)  Tuition for a resident student registered in a public 
junior college is determined by the governing board of each 
institution, but the tuition may not be less than $8 for each 
semester credit hour and may not total less than $25 for a semester.  
Tuition for a nonresident student is determined by the governing 
board of each institution but the tuition may not be less than $200 
for each semester.  The governing board of a public junior college 
may set a different tuition rate for each program, course, or course 
level offered by the institution, including a program, course, or 
course level described by another provision of this section, as the 
governing board considers appropriate to reflect course costs or to 
promote efficiency or another rational purpose.
	SECTION 3.  Section 54.051(n), Education Code, as amended by 
this Act, applies beginning with tuition charged for the 2005 fall 
semester.  Tuition charged for an academic period before the 2005 
fall semester is covered by the law in effect immediately before the 
effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in 
effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.  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.