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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing a public institution of higher education to |
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include certain textbook costs in the institution's charge for |
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tuition or required fees. |
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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 54.019 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 54.019. INCLUSION OF CERTAIN TEXTBOOK COSTS IN TUITION |
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OR FEES CHARGE. (a) The governing board of an institution of |
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higher education may establish in accordance with this section a |
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textbook affordability program under which the institution may |
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include the cost of any textbooks or other materials required for a |
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course in the tuition or required fees charged by the institution |
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for the course. The institution may establish the program only if, |
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in accordance with 34 C.F.R. Section 668.164(c)(2), the |
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institution: |
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(1) enters into an agreement with a book publisher or |
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other entity to make those textbooks or materials available to |
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students at below competitive market rates; |
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(2) provides students a means of obtaining those |
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textbooks or materials not later than the seventh day of the |
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semester or other term in which the textbooks or materials are |
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required; and |
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(3) adopts a policy under which a student may opt out |
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of having the cost of those textbooks or materials included in the |
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tuition or required fees charged to the student. |
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(b) The cost of textbooks or other materials included in an |
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institution of higher education's charge for tuition or required |
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fees under Subsection (a) is not subject to a limitation placed on |
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the amount of a fee under this chapter or any other provision of |
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this code. |
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(c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt |
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rules for the administration of a textbook affordability program |
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established under this section. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies |
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beginning with the 2019 fall semester. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2019. |