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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a limitation on increases in the total amount of tuition |
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and compulsory fees 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. Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 54.016 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.016. LIMITATION ON INCREASE IN TOTAL AMOUNT OF |
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TUITION AND COMPULSORY FEES. (a) In this section, "compulsory fee" |
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has the meaning assigned by Section 54.503. |
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(b) The total amount of tuition and compulsory fees charged |
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by an institution of higher education to a student in an academic |
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year may not exceed an amount equal to the sum of: |
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(1) as determined by the institution at the beginning |
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of the academic year, the lesser of: |
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(A) an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of |
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the difference between the median income for four-person families |
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in this state, as determined by the United States Census Bureau, |
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during the most recent year for which that data is available and the |
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year preceding that year; or |
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(B) $150; and |
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(2) the total amount of tuition and compulsory fees |
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charged by the institution to a similarly situated student in the |
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preceding academic year. |
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(c) For purposes of Subsection (b), students are similarly |
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situated if they share the same residency status, degree program, |
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course load, course level, tuition exemption status, and other |
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circumstances affecting the tuition and compulsory fees charged to |
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the student. |
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(d) Subsection (b) does not ensure that the total amount of |
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tuition and compulsory fees charged to an individual student will |
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not increase to an amount that exceeds the amount permitted by that |
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subsection based on a change in the student's residency status, |
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degree program, course load, course level, tuition exemption |
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status, or other circumstance affecting the tuition and compulsory |
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fees charged to the student. |
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(e) If as a result of a required statutory increase in |
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tuition or a compulsory fee an institution of higher education |
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would charge more in tuition and compulsory fees for an academic |
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period than permitted by Subsection (b) because the institution |
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does not have sufficient time before the beginning of the academic |
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period to adjust its tuition and compulsory fee charges: |
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(1) tuition for which rates are prescribed under |
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Section 54.051 or another provision prescribing tuition rates and a |
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compulsory fee for which the rate is prescribed by law shall be |
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charged at those required rates; and |
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(2) the amount designated as tuition under Section |
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54.0513 or another provision authorizing an institution to |
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establish tuition rates, and the amount of a compulsory fee that is |
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not prescribed by law, must each be reduced by the same percentage |
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as necessary to comply with Subsection (b), except that the |
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institution is not required to reduce a fee that is approved by a |
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majority vote of the institution's students participating in a |
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general student election held for that purpose. |
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(f) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt |
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rules as necessary to administer this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the total amount |
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of tuition and compulsory fees charged by public institutions of |
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higher education for the 2007-2008 academic year. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |