|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the rates of tuition charged to students of |
|
institutions of higher education. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 54.051(c), Education Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(c) Unless a different rate is specified by this section, |
|
tuition for a resident student at a general academic teaching |
|
institution is $64 [$50] per semester credit hour. |
|
SECTION 2. Sections 54.0512(b) and (d), Education Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) Tuition for a resident student at a general academic |
|
teaching institution for whom the rate of tuition would, in the |
|
absence of this section, be the rate provided by Section 54.051(c) |
|
is: |
|
(1) for the 2007-2008 [2000-2001] academic year, $54 |
|
[$40] per semester credit hour; |
|
(2) for the 2008-2009 [2001-2002] academic year, $56 |
|
[$42] per semester credit hour; |
|
(3) for the 2009-2010 [2002-2003] academic year, $58 |
|
[$44] per semester credit hour; |
|
(4) for the 2010-2011 [2003-2004] academic year, $60 |
|
[$46] per semester credit hour; |
|
(5) for the 2011-2012 [2004-2005] academic year, $62 |
|
[$48] per semester credit hour; and |
|
(6) for the 2012-2013 [2005-2006] academic year, $64 |
|
[$50] per semester credit hour. |
|
(d) This section expires January 1, 2015 [2008]. |
|
SECTION 3. Sections 54.0513(a) and (b), Education Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) In addition to amounts that a governing board of an |
|
institution of higher education is authorized to charge as tuition |
|
under the other provisions of this chapter, the governing board[,
|
|
under the terms the governing board considers appropriate,] may |
|
charge any student for an academic period an amount designated as |
|
tuition not to exceed the amount charged to the student under |
|
Section 54.051 or 54.0512, as applicable, for that academic period |
|
[that the governing board considers necessary for the effective
|
|
operation of the institution]. |
|
(b) Subject to the limit provided by Subsection (a) on the |
|
amount designated as tuition charged under this section, a [A] |
|
governing board may set a different tuition rate under this section |
|
for each program and course level offered by each institution of |
|
higher education[. A governing board may set a different tuition
|
|
rate] as the governing board considers appropriate to increase |
|
graduation rates, encourage efficient use of facilities, [or] |
|
enhance employee performance, or further another legitimate |
|
purpose of the institution. |
|
SECTION 4. Sections 54.0515(e) and (f), Education Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(e) It is the legislature's intent that each institution of |
|
higher education[, as a condition to tuition deregulation under
|
|
Section 54.0513,] reasonably implement the following: |
|
(1) each institution shall make satisfactory progress |
|
towards the goals provided in its master plan for higher education |
|
and in "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher |
|
education; and |
|
(2) each institution shall meet acceptable |
|
performance criteria, including measures such as graduation rates, |
|
retention rates, enrollment growth, educational quality, efforts |
|
to enhance minority participation, opportunities for financial |
|
aid, and affordability. |
|
(f) The committee shall: |
|
(1) meet at the call of either chair; |
|
(2) monitor and regularly report to the legislature on |
|
each institution of higher education's compliance with the |
|
requirements of Subsection (e); and |
|
(3) receive and review information concerning the |
|
affordability and accessibility of higher education[, including
|
|
the impact of tuition deregulation]. |
|
SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Education Code, is |
|
repealed. |
|
SECTION 6. (a) The changes in law made by this Act apply |
|
beginning with tuition charged by an institution of higher |
|
education for the 2007-2008 academic year. Tuition charged by an |
|
institution of higher education in an academic year before that |
|
academic year is covered by the law in effect before the effective |
|
date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
|
purpose. |
|
(b) Tuition set aside under Subchapter B, Chapter 56, |
|
Education Code, before the 2007-2008 academic year that was not |
|
used as provided by that subchapter before that academic year shall |
|
be used as provided by that subchapter as it existed immediately |
|
before the effective date of this Act, and that subchapter is |
|
continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 7. 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. |