79R5120 JSA-D

By:  Hinojosa                                                     S.B. No. 528


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the installment payment of tuition and fees charged by a public junior college for a summer term. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 54.007(b) and (c), Education Code, are amended 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, 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, 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. 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.