81R470 CAS-D
 
  By: Thibaut H.B. No. 364
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a fixed tuition rate provided by general academic
  teaching institutions and public lower-division institutions of
  higher education to certain undergraduate students.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 54.016 to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.016.  FIXED TUITION RATE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.
  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board.
               (2)  "General academic teaching institution," "public
  junior college," "public state college," and "public technical
  institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
               (3)  "Lower-division institution of higher education" 
  means a public junior college, public state college, or public
  technical institute.
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by this section, in a
  semester or other academic term, the governing board of a general
  academic teaching institution or lower-division institution of
  higher education may not charge tuition to an undergraduate student
  under Section 54.0513, or under any other law granting the
  institution discretion to set the tuition rate, at a rate that
  exceeds the rate the institution charged to the student during the
  first semester or other academic term that the student enrolled at
  the institution if the student is currently and at all times while
  enrolled at the institution has been a resident of this state for
  purposes of Subchapter B or was otherwise entitled to pay tuition at
  the rate provided for residents of this state.
         (c)  For a student enrolled at a general academic teaching
  institution other than a public state college, Subsection (b) does
  not apply to the student after:
               (1)  the fourth anniversary of the date the student
  first enrolls at any public institution of higher education,
  regardless of whether the student transfers among any public or
  private institutions of higher education after the initial
  enrollment, if the student is enrolled in a degree program of four
  years or less; or
               (2)  the fifth anniversary of the date the student
  first enrolls at any public institution of higher education,
  regardless of whether the student transfers among any public or
  private institutions of higher education after the initial
  enrollment, if the student is enrolled in a degree program of more
  than four years.
         (d)  For a student enrolled at a lower-division institution
  of higher education, Subsection (b) does not apply to the student
  after the second anniversary of the date the student first enrolls
  at any lower-division institution of higher education, regardless
  of whether the student transfers among any public or private
  institutions of higher education after the initial enrollment.
         (e)  Each general academic teaching institution or
  lower-division institution of higher education shall notify each
  entering undergraduate student, including each undergraduate
  student who transfers to the institution, of the eligibility
  requirements for a fixed tuition rate under this section.
         (f)  In consultation with the general academic teaching
  institutions and lower-division institutions of higher education,
  the coordinating board shall adopt any rules the coordinating board
  considers appropriate for the administration of this section.
         (g)  This section does not apply to a student who enters a
  general academic teaching institution or lower-division
  institution of higher education for the first time before the 2010
  fall semester. This subsection expires January 1, 2016.
         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 September 1, 2009.