Bill Text: TX SB1531 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to formula funding for excess undergraduate credit hours at public institutions of higher education and to the tuition rate that may be charged for those credit hours.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-14 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB1531 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1531-Engrossed.html

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By: West S.B. No. 1531

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to formula funding for excess undergraduate credit hours
at public institutions of higher education and to the tuition rate
that may be charged for those credit hours.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.014, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to
read as follows:
(a) An institution of higher education may charge a resident
undergraduate student tuition at a higher rate than the rate
charged to other resident undergraduate students, not to exceed the
rate charged to nonresident undergraduate students, if before the
semester or other academic session begins the student has
previously attempted a number of semester credit hours for courses
taken at any institution of higher education while classified as a
resident student for tuition purposes that exceeds [by at least 30
hours] the number of semester credit hours required for completion
of the degree program in which the student is enrolled by at least:
(1) for an associate degree program, 15 hours; or
(2) for a baccalaureate degree program, 30 hours.
(a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a) [this subsection], an
undergraduate student who is not enrolled in a degree program is
considered to be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program [or
programs requiring a minimum of 120 semester credit hours,
including minors and double majors, and for completion of any
certificate or other special program in which the student is also
enrolled, including a program with a study-abroad component].
(a-2) An institution of higher education that charges
students tuition at a higher rate under Subsection (a) [this
subsection] may adopt a policy under which the institution exempts
from the payment of that higher rate a student that is subject to
the payment of the higher rate solely as a result of hardship as
determined by the institution under the policy.
SECTION 2. Sections 61.0595(a) and (b), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) In the formulas established under Section 61.059, the
board may not include funding for semester credit hours earned by a
resident undergraduate student who before the semester or other
academic session begins has previously attempted a number of
semester credit hours for courses taken at any institution of
higher education while classified as a resident student for tuition
purposes that exceeds [by at least 30 hours] the number of semester
credit hours required for completion of the degree program or
programs in which the student is enrolled, including minors and
double majors, and for completion of any certificate or other
special program in which the student is also enrolled, including a
program with a study-abroad component, by at least:
(1) for an associate degree program, 15 hours; or
(2) for a baccalaureate degree program, 30 hours.
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), an undergraduate
student who is not enrolled in a degree program is considered to be
enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program [requiring a minimum of
120 semester credit hours].
SECTION 3. Section 54.014, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with tuition charged for the 2023 fall
semester.
SECTION 4. Section 61.0595, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with funding recommendations made under
Section 61.059, Education Code, for the state fiscal biennium
beginning September 1, 2023.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.