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AN ACT
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relating to formula funding for excess undergraduate credit hours |
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at public institutions of higher education and to the tuition rate |
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that may be charged for those credit hours. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.014, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) An institution of higher education may charge a resident |
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undergraduate student tuition at a higher rate than the rate |
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charged to other resident undergraduate students, not to exceed the |
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rate charged to nonresident undergraduate students, if before the |
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semester or other academic session begins the student has |
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previously attempted a number of semester credit hours for courses |
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taken at any institution of higher education while classified as a |
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resident student for tuition purposes that exceeds [by at least 30 |
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hours] the number of semester credit hours required for completion |
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of the degree program in which the student is enrolled by at least: |
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(1) for an associate degree program, 15 hours; or |
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(2) for a baccalaureate degree program, 30 hours. |
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(a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a) [this subsection], an |
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undergraduate student who is not enrolled in a degree program is |
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considered to be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program [or |
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programs requiring a minimum of 120 semester credit hours, |
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including minors and double majors, and for completion of any |
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certificate or other special program in which the student is also |
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enrolled, including a program with a study-abroad component]. |
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(a-2) An institution of higher education that charges |
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students tuition at a higher rate under Subsection (a) [this |
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subsection] may adopt a policy under which the institution exempts |
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from the payment of that higher rate a student that is subject to |
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the payment of the higher rate solely as a result of hardship as |
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determined by the institution under the policy. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 61.0595(a) and (b), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In the formulas established under Section 61.059, the |
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board may not include funding for semester credit hours earned by a |
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resident undergraduate student who before the semester or other |
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academic session begins has previously attempted a number of |
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semester credit hours for courses taken at any institution of |
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higher education while classified as a resident student for tuition |
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purposes that exceeds [by at least 30 hours] the number of semester |
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credit hours required for completion of the degree program or |
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programs in which the student is enrolled, including minors and |
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double majors, and for completion of any certificate or other |
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special program in which the student is also enrolled, including a |
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program with a study-abroad component, by at least: |
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(1) for an associate degree program, 15 hours; or |
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(2) for a baccalaureate degree program, 30 hours. |
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(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), an undergraduate |
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student who is not enrolled in a degree program is considered to be |
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enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program [requiring a minimum of |
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120 semester credit hours]. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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54.014, Education Code, applies beginning with tuition charged to |
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students enrolling for the first time in an associate degree |
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program at a public institution of higher education for the 2023 |
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fall semester. Tuition charged to a student who first enrolled in |
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an associate degree program at a public institution of higher |
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education before the 2023 fall semester is governed by the law in |
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effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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61.0595, Education Code, applies beginning with funding |
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recommendations made under Section 61.059, Education Code, for the |
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state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2023, for semester |
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credit hours earned by students initially enrolling in an associate |
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degree program at a public institution of higher education for the |
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2023 fall semester or a subsequent semester or term. Funding |
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recommendations for semester credit hours earned by a student who |
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initially enrolled in an associate degree program at a public |
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institution of higher education before the 2023 fall semester are |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date |
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of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1531 passed the Senate on |
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April 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that |
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the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 28, 2021, by the |
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following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1531 passed the House, with |
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amendment, on May 25, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 73, |
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Nays 72, one present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |