83R1465 KSD-D

By: Branch H.B. No. 29

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring general academic teaching institutions to offer a fixed tuition rate plan to undergraduate students.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 54.017 to read as follows:

Sec. 54.017. FIXED TUITION RATE OPTION FOR UNDERGRADUATE 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.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and except as otherwise provided by this section, the governing board of a general academic teaching institution shall offer each entering undergraduate student, including each undergraduate student who transfers to the institution regardless of the number of semester credit hours transferred by the student, the opportunity to participate in a fixed tuition rate plan.

(c) A fixed tuition rate plan offered under this section must provide that:

(1) during the 48 months immediately following the date of a student's initial enrollment at the general academic teaching institution, the institution may not charge tuition to the student for a semester or other academic term at a rate that exceeds the rate the institution would have charged the student for the same courses during:

(A) the first academic year in which the student enrolled at the institution, if the student initially enrolled for a fall or spring semester; or

(B) the academic year immediately following the summer term in which the student enrolled at the institution, if the student initially enrolled for a summer term; and

(2) after the fourth anniversary of the date the student first enrolls at the institution, regardless of whether the student is continuously enrolled in the institution after that initial enrollment, the institution may not charge tuition to the student for a semester or other academic term at a rate that exceeds the rate the institution would have charged the student under Subdivision (1) had the student initially enrolled in the institution one year after the student's actual initial enrollment.

(d) A fixed tuition rate charged to a student by a general academic teaching institution under Subsection (c) does not apply to the student after the student has been awarded a baccalaureate degree by the institution. A student who previously completed a baccalaureate degree program at the institution is considered to be an entering undergraduate student for purposes of this section if the student subsequently enrolls in another undergraduate degree program at the institution.

(e) Each general academic teaching institution shall notify each entering undergraduate student, including each undergraduate student who transfers to the institution, of the fixed tuition rate plan offered under this section.

(f) In consultation with the general academic teaching institutions, the coordinating board shall adopt any rules the coordinating board considers appropriate for the administration of this section.

(g) This section does not require a general academic teaching institution to offer an alternative tuition plan to undergraduate students enrolled in the institution.

(h) This section does not apply to the tuition charged by a general academic teaching institution to a student who enters the institution for the first time before the 2013 fall semester. This subsection expires January 1, 2020.

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, 2013.