TITLE: Relating to a fixed tuition rate provided by general academic teaching institutions and public junior colleges to certain undergraduate students.

SUMMARY: Relating to a fixed tuition rate provided by general academic teaching institutions and public junior colleges to certain undergraduate students.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to a fixed tuition rate provided by general academic teaching institutions and public junior colleges to certain 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 FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS. (a) In this section: (1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (2) "General academic teaching institution" and "public junior college" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003. (b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, in a semester or other academic term, the governing board of a general academic teaching institution or public junior college may not charge tuition to an undergraduate student under Section 54.0513, or under any other law granting the institution or college discretion to set the tuition rate, at a rate that exceeds the rate the institution or college charged the student during the first semester or other academic term the student enrolled in the institution or college if the student is currently and at all times while enrolled at the institution or college has been a resident of this state for purposes of Subchapter Bor was otherwise entitled to pay tuition at the rate provided for residents of this state. (c) If a student enrolls in a general academic teaching institution after transferring from another public or private institution of higher education, Subsection (b) does not apply to the student after the second anniversary of the date of that enrollment, regardless of whether the student was ever previously enrolled at the institution. For any other student enrolled in a general academic teaching institution, Subsection (b) does not apply to the student after: (1) the fourth anniversary of the date the student first enrolls at the institution, if the student is enrolled in a four-year degree program; or (2) the end of the standard completion period for the degree program in which the student is enrolled, as established by the institution awarding the degree, if the student is enrolled in a degree program other than a four-year degree program. (d) For a student enrolled in a public junior college, Subsection (b) does not apply to the student after the second anniversary of the date the student first enrolls at the college. (e) Each general academic teaching institution or public junior college shall notify each entering undergraduate student, including each undergraduate student who transfers to the institution or college, of the eligibility requirements for a fixed tuition rate under this section. (f) In consultation with the general academic teaching institutions and public junior colleges, the coordinating board shall adopt any rules the coordinating board considers appropriate for the administration of this section. (g) This section does not apply to a student enrolled in a general academic teaching institution who is entitled to pay a lower rate of tuition than that prescribed by this section under a fixed tuition rate program for transfer students offered under Section 54.016. (h) This section does not apply to a student who enters a general academic teaching institution or public junior college 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.