Honorable Chris Turner, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3893 by Ramos (Relating to tuition and fees exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain dual credit students considering a teaching career.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill relates to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain dual credit students considering a teaching career. Under provisions of the bill, to qualify for the exemption a high school student must 1) be enrolled at a public high school in dual credit courses offered through the institution of higher education granting the exemption, 2) be a member of a future teacher association and 3) comply with any other requirements by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (Board).
Based on information provided by the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE), which is comprised of middle school, high school, and college students, had 5,527 members in 2017. The Board estimates that 75 percent or 4,145, of TAFE members are high school seniors enrolled in dual credit courses. The Board reports that 93 percent, or 3,855, dual credit students enrolled in public community colleges, Texas State Technical Colleges, or State colleges and 7 percent, or 290 students, enrolled in public universities. The Board reports that the average tuition and fees for dual credit for fiscal year 2017-18 for the public community colleges, Texas State Technical Colleges and State colleges is $1,525 and for public universities is $3,074. The Board estimates that dual credit high school seniors would receive an exemption for one year. Based on these assumptions, the Higher Education Coordinating Board estimates that the foregone tuition and fee revenue is $6.8 million beginning in fiscal year 2020.
The bill would primarily impact designated tuition and fees, which are classified as institutional funds, and therefore would not impact the state. Several public community colleges have indicated that this impact could be significant. The bill would also impact laboratory fees, student teaching fees, and special course fees, that are accounted as educational and general income, or statutory tuition in the General Appropriations Act. It is assumed that the provisions of the bill would not have a significant effect on this income.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration, 980 Southwest Texas Junior College