By: Strama, Gonzalez Toureilles H.B. No. 544

(Senate Sponsor - Watson)

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 14, 2007; May 15, 2007, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher Education; May 18, 2007, reported favorably from Committee on Education by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 18, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to reduced tuition and fees for certain junior college district students who reside outside of the district.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 130.0032(c), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) The governing board of a public junior college district may allow a person who resides outside the district to pay tuition and fees at a rate less than the rate applicable to other persons residing outside the district, but not less than the rate applicable to a student who resides in the district, if the person:

(1) resides within the service area of the district; and

(2) [does not reside in an independent school district that meets the criteria of the coordinating board for the establishment of a junior college district under Section 130.013; and

[(3)] demonstrates financial need in accordance with rules adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies beginning with tuition and fees for the 2007 fall semester. Tuition and fees for a term or semester before the 2007 fall semester are 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 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, 2007.

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