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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the rates of tuition charged to students of public |
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institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.051(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) Unless a different rate is specified by this section, |
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tuition for a resident student at a general academic teaching |
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institution is $64 [$50] per semester credit hour. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 54.0512 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.0512. INTERIM TUITION RATES. (a) Notwithstanding |
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Section 54.051, tuition for the applicable academic year described |
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by this section is as provided by this section. |
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(b) Tuition for a resident student at a general academic |
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teaching institution for whom the rate of tuition would, in the |
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absence of this section, be the rate provided by Section 54.051(c) |
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is: |
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(1) for the 2011-2012 academic year, $54 per semester |
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credit hour; |
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(2) for the 2012-2013 academic year, $56 per semester |
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credit hour; |
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(3) for the 2013-2014 academic year, $58 per semester |
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credit hour; |
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(4) for the 2014-2015 academic year, $60 per semester |
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credit hour; |
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(5) for the 2015-2016 academic year, $62 per semester |
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credit hour; and |
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(6) for the 2016-2017 academic year, $64 per semester |
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credit hour. |
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(c) Tuition for academic years not specifically covered by |
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this section is at the rates provided by Section 54.051. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 54.0513(a) and (b), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In addition to amounts that a governing board of an |
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institution of higher education is authorized to charge as tuition |
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under the other provisions of this chapter, the governing board[,
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under the terms the governing board considers appropriate,] may |
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charge any student for an academic period an amount designated as |
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tuition not to exceed the amount charged to the student under |
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Section 54.051 or 54.0512, as applicable, for that academic period |
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[that the governing board considers necessary for the effective
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operation of the institution]. |
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(b) Subject to the limit provided by Subsection (a) on the |
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amount designated as tuition charged under this section, a [A] |
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governing board may set a different tuition rate under this section |
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for each program and course level offered by each institution of |
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higher education[. A governing board may set a different tuition
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rate] as the governing board considers appropriate to increase |
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graduation rates, encourage efficient use of facilities, [or] |
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enhance employee performance, or further another legitimate |
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purpose of the institution. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 54.0515(e) and (f), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) It is the legislature's intent that each institution of |
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higher education[, as a condition to tuition deregulation under
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Section 54.0513,] reasonably implement the following: |
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(1) each institution shall make satisfactory progress |
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towards the goals provided in its master plan for higher education |
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and in "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher |
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education; and |
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(2) each institution shall meet acceptable |
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performance criteria, including measures such as graduation rates, |
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retention rates, enrollment growth, educational quality, efforts |
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to enhance minority participation, opportunities for financial |
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aid, and affordability. |
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(f) The committee shall: |
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(1) meet at the call of either chair; |
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(2) monitor and regularly report to the legislature on |
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each institution of higher education's compliance with the |
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requirements of Subsection (e); and |
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(3) receive and review information concerning the |
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affordability and accessibility of higher education[, including
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the impact of tuition deregulation]. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Education Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 6. (a) The changes in law made by this Act apply |
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beginning with tuition charged by an institution of higher |
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education for the 2011-2012 academic year. Tuition charged by an |
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institution of higher education in an academic year before that |
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academic year is covered by the law in effect before the effective |
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date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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(b) Tuition set aside under Subchapter B, Chapter 56, |
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Education Code, before the 2011-2012 academic year that was not |
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used as provided by that subchapter before that academic year shall |
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be used as provided by that subchapter as it existed immediately |
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before the effective date of this Act, and that subchapter is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 7. 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. |