By: Lewis (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 2999

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2011; May 5, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education; May 23, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 23, 2011, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2999 By: Zaffirini

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a fixed tuition rate program for certain students who transfer to a state university after completing an associate degree program.

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 PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN TRANSFER STUDENTS AT GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTIONS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(2) "General academic teaching institution" has the meaning 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) A general academic teaching institution may develop a fixed tuition rate program for qualified students who agree to transfer to the institution within 12 months after successfully earning an associate degree at a lower-division institution of higher education. Under a program developed under this section, a general academic teaching institution must:

(1) guarantee to a participating student enrolled in an associate degree program at a lower-division institution of higher education, on successful completion of the associate degree program, transfer admission to the general academic teaching institution within the period prescribed above; and

(2) notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, charge tuition to a participating student for any semester or other academic term during a period of at least 24 months following the student's initial enrollment in the institution at the same rate the general academic teaching institution would have charged to the student during the later of:

(A) the fall semester of the student's freshman year at another institution of higher education had the student entered the general academic teaching institution as a freshman student; or

(B) the fall semester of the second academic year preceding the academic year of the student's initial enrollment in the general academic teaching institution.

(c) A general academic teaching institution that develops a fixed tuition rate program under this section shall prescribe eligibility requirements for participation in the program and notify applicants for transfer admission from lower-division institutions of higher education regarding the program.

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, 2011.

* * * * *