This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

                                                                                

79R5755 CAS-F

By:  Flores                                                       H.B. No. 2007



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a tuition and fee exemption for students earning 
semester credit hours through concurrent enrollment in high school 
and college-level courses.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 54.2161 to read as follows:
	Sec. 54.2161.  STUDENTS EARNING SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF 
SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS THROUGH CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT.  (a)  In this 
section, "concurrent enrollment" means enrollment in a course for 
which a student is entitled to simultaneously receive both:
		(1)  course credit toward the student's high school 
academic requirements; and
		(2)  course credit toward a degree offered by an 
institution of higher education.
	(b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the governing 
board of an institution of higher education shall exempt from the 
payment of tuition and required fees an undergraduate student who 
has earned through concurrent enrollment at least 59 semester 
credit hours or the equivalent if the student:
		(1)  graduated from a public high school in this state;                
		(2)  is a resident of this state for purposes of 
Subchapter B or is otherwise entitled to pay tuition at the rate 
provided for residents of this state; and
		(3)  before enrolling in the institution, meets 
applicable assessment standards described by Section 51.3062(f) on 
an assessment instrument designated by the Texas Higher Education 
Coordinating Board for purposes of Section 51.3062.
	(c)  A student may not receive an exemption under this 
section for more than 60 semester credit hours or the equivalent.
	(d)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall 
adopt:       
		(1)  rules governing the granting or denial of an 
exemption under this section, including rules relating to the 
determination of eligibility for an exemption; and
		(2)  a uniform application form for an exemption under 
this section. 
	SECTION 2.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this 
section, this Act takes effect beginning with the 2006 fall 
semester.
	(b)  Not later than January 1, 2006, the Texas Higher 
Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules and forms for the 
administration of Section 54.2161, Education Code, as added by 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, 2005.