81R4111 KSD-D

By: Bolton H.B. No. 1120

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to limitations on increases in designated tuition charged by certain general academic teaching institutions.

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

SECTION 1. Section 54.0513, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) to read as follows:

(g) The amount of tuition the governing board of a general academic teaching institution other than a public state college charges under this section to a student for an academic year may not exceed the total amount of tuition that the governing board would have charged under this section to a similarly situated student in the preceding academic year, as that amount is adjusted for each academic year for inflation as determined under Subsection (h). The governing board may not increase the amount of tuition charged under this section to a student more than once in any academic year. For purposes of this subsection, students are similarly situated if they share the same residency status, degree program, course load, course level, tuition exemption status, and other circumstances affecting the tuition charged to the student.

(h) Not later than March 1 of each year, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by rule shall determine the inflation rate to be used for purposes of Subsection (g) for the next academic year and shall certify that rate to the governing board of each institution of higher education to which Subsection (g) applies. For purposes of Subsection (g), the inflation rate is the percentage increase, if any, as expressed in decimal form rounded to the nearest thousandth, in the consumer price index, as defined by Section 341.201, Finance Code, for the preceding calendar year as compared to the consumer price index for the year preceding that year.

(i) The coordinating board may adopt rules as necessary to administer Subsections (g) and (h).

(j) In this section, "general academic teaching institution" and "public state college" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section 54.0513, Education Code, apply beginning with tuition charged for the 2010-2011 academic year. Tuition charged for 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.

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, 2009.