81R1159 CAS-D
 
  By: Hinojosa, et al. S.B. No. 105
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to limitations on increases in fees and designated tuition
  charged by public institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 54.5001 to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.5001.  STUDENT APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR FEE INCREASE.
  Unless the law authorizing the imposition of a fee expressly
  provides that this section does not apply to the fee or that the fee
  may be increased without student approval at a student election,
  the governing board of an institution of higher education may not
  increase the amount of a fee charged under this subchapter unless
  the amount of the increase is approved by a majority vote of the
  students of the institution voting in a general student election
  called for that purpose.
         SECTION 2.  Section 54.0513, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (g), (h), (i), (j), and (k) to read as follows:
         (g)  The amount of tuition the governing board of an
  institution of higher education 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. 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 this section.
         (j)  Notwithstanding Subsection (g), for the 2009-2010
  academic year and the 2010-2011 academic year, the amount of
  tuition charged to a student under this section may not exceed the
  total amount of tuition that the institution would have charged
  under this section to a similarly situated student in the 2008-2009
  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.  
  This subsection expires September 1, 2011.
         (k)  If a student has paid an amount of tuition charged under
  this section for the 2009 fall semester in excess of the maximum
  amount permitted by this section, the institution, not later than
  January 1, 2010, shall refund to the student the excess amount of
  tuition paid. This subsection expires September 1, 2010.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  Section 54.5001, Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies beginning with fee increases for the 2009 fall
  semester.
         (b)  Section 54.0513, Education Code, as amended by this Act,
  applies beginning with tuition charged by public institutions of
  higher education for the 2009-2010 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.
         (c)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
  temporary rules under Section 54.0513(i), Education Code, as added
  by this Act, for the 2009-2010 academic year in the manner provided
  by law for the adoption of emergency rules.
         SECTION 4.  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.