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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a moratorium and other limitations on increases in |
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designated tuition charged by public institutions of higher |
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education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.0513, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (g), (h), and (i) to read as follows: |
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(g) The amount of tuition charged to a student under this |
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section may not exceed by more than five percent the total amount of |
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tuition that the institution would have charged under this section |
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to a similarly situated student in the preceding academic year. If, |
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in an academic year, a governing board charges a student under this |
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section an amount of tuition that exceeds the total amount of |
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tuition that the institution would have charged under this section |
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to a similarly situated student in the preceding academic year, the |
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governing board may not again raise the amount of the student's |
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tuition under this section for all or any part of the current |
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academic year. For purposes of this subsection, students are |
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similarly situated if they share the same residency status, degree |
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program, course load, course level, tuition exemption status, and |
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other circumstances affecting the tuition charged to the student. |
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The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules as |
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necessary to administer this subsection. |
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(h) Notwithstanding Subsection (g), for the 2007-2008 |
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academic year, the 2008-2009 academic year, and the 2009-2010 |
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academic year, the amount of tuition charged to a student under this |
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section may not exceed the total amount of tuition that the |
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institution would have charged under this section to a similarly |
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situated student in the 2006-2007 academic year. For purposes of |
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this subsection, students are similarly situated if they share the |
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same residency status, degree program, course load, course level, |
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tuition exemption status, and other circumstances affecting the |
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tuition charged to the student. The Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board may adopt rules as necessary to administer this |
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subsection. This subsection expires September 1, 2010. |
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(i) If a student has paid an amount of tuition charged under |
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this section for the 2007 fall semester in excess of the maximum |
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amount permitted by this section, the institution, not later than |
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January 1, 2008, shall refund to the student the excess amount of |
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tuition paid. This subsection expires September 1, 2008. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |