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.