Bill Text: TX SB19 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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

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Bill Title: Relating to performance-based tuition limitations for and a temporary limitation on the amount of tuition and fees charged by certain public institutions of higher education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-17 - Left pending in committee [SB19 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB19-Introduced.html

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85R4311 KSD-D
By: Seliger S.B. No. 19

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to temporary limitations on the amount of tuition and fees
charged by certain public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.0514 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.0514. TEMPORARY LIMITATION ON TOTAL AMOUNT OF
TUITION. (a) In this section:
(1) "General academic teaching institution" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) "Tuition" includes:
(A) tuition for which the rates are prescribed by
this chapter; and
(B) tuition charged by a general academic
teaching institution under Section 54.0513 or another law
authorizing an institution to establish tuition rates.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 54.0513 or another law
authorizing an institution to establish tuition rates, the total
amount of tuition charged by a general academic teaching
institution to a student for the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021,
or 2021-2022 academic year may not exceed the total amount of
tuition that the institution would have charged under this chapter
to a similarly situated student for the 2016-2017 academic year.
(c) For purposes of this section, students are similarly
situated if they share the same residency status, degree program,
course load, course level, tuition exemption status, and other
circumstances affecting the tuition charged to the student.
(d) This section does not ensure that the total amount of
tuition charged to an individual student does not increase based on
a change in the student's residency status, degree program, course
load, course level, tuition exemption status, or other circumstance
affecting the tuition charged to the student.
(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
rules as necessary to administer this section.
(f) This section expires August 31, 2022.
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.5001 to read as follows:
Sec. 54.5001. TEMPORARY LIMITATIONS ON FEE INCREASES. (a)
In this section, "general academic teaching institution" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter
or other law, in each of the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and
2021-2022 academic years, the governing board of a general academic
teaching institution may not charge a fee under this subchapter in
an amount that is greater than the amount of the fee charged by the
institution in the 2016-2017 academic year.
(c) The limitation provided by this section applies to a fee
even if an increase in the amount of the fee is approved by a vote of
the students, student government, or student fee advisory committee
of the general academic teaching institution.
(d) This section expires August 31, 2022.
SECTION 3. 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. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.