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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a fixed tuition rate provided by general academic |
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teaching institutions to certain undergraduate students. |
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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. FIXED TUITION RATE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS |
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AT GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTIONS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and |
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except as otherwise provided by this section, for a semester or |
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other academic term, the governing board of a general academic |
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teaching institution may not charge tuition to an undergraduate |
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student at a rate that exceeds the rate the institution charged to |
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the student during the first semester or other academic term that |
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the student enrolled at the institution if the student is currently |
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and at all times while enrolled at the institution has been a |
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resident of this state for purposes of Subchapter B or was otherwise |
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entitled to pay tuition at the rate provided for residents of this |
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state. |
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(c) Subsection (b) does not apply to a student after the |
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fifth anniversary of the date the student first enrolls at any |
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public institution of higher education, regardless of whether the |
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student transfers among any public or private institutions of |
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higher education after the initial enrollment. |
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(d) Each general academic teaching institution shall notify |
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each entering undergraduate student, including each undergraduate |
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student who transfers to the institution, of the eligibility |
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requirements for a fixed tuition rate under this section. |
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(e) In consultation with the general academic teaching |
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institutions, the coordinating board shall adopt any rules the |
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coordinating board considers appropriate for the administration of |
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this section. |
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(f) This section does not apply to a student who enters a |
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general academic teaching institution for the first time before the |
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2011 fall semester. This subsection expires January 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2011. |