Bill Text: TX HB1232 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to a limitation on the amount of tuition, fees, and other charges charged to students by public institutions of higher education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-22 - Referred to Higher Education [HB1232 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB1232-Introduced.html
  85R4986 KSD-D
 
  By: Swanson H.B. No. 1232
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a limitation on the amount of tuition, fees, and other
  charges charged to students by 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.  LIMITATION ON TOTAL AMOUNT OF TUITION. (a)
  In this section, "tuition" includes:
               (1)  tuition for which the rates are prescribed by this
  chapter; and
               (2)  tuition charged by an institution of higher
  education under Section 54.0513 or another law authorizing an
  institution to establish tuition rates.
         (b)  The total amount of tuition charged by an institution of
  higher education to a student for an academic year may not exceed an
  amount equal to the total amount of tuition that the institution
  would have charged under this chapter to a similarly situated
  student for the 2015-2016 academic year. For purposes of this
  subsection, 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. This subsection 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.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 54.0513(a) and (b), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  In addition to amounts that a governing board of an
  institution of higher education is authorized to charge as tuition
  under the other provisions of this chapter, the governing board[,
  under the terms the governing board considers appropriate,] may
  charge any student an amount designated as tuition, not to exceed
  the maximum amount that enables the institution to comply with
  Section 54.0514, that the governing board considers necessary for
  the effective operation of the institution.
         (b)  Subject to the limit provided by Subsection (a) on the
  amount designated as tuition charged under this section, a [A]
  governing board may set a different tuition rate under this section
  for each program and course level offered by each institution of
  higher education[. A governing board may set a different tuition
  rate] as the governing board considers appropriate to increase
  graduation rates, encourage efficient use of facilities, or enhance
  employee performance.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 54.0515(e) and (f), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  It is the legislature's intent that each institution of
  higher education[, as a condition to tuition deregulation under
  Section 54.0513,] reasonably implement the following:
               (1)  each institution shall make satisfactory progress
  towards the goals provided in its master plan for higher education
  and in "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher
  education, or a successor state master plan; and
               (2)  each institution shall meet acceptable
  performance criteria, including measures such as graduation rates,
  retention rates, enrollment growth, educational quality, efforts
  to enhance minority participation, opportunities for financial
  aid, and affordability.
         (f)  The committee shall:
               (1)  meet at the call of either chair;
               (2)  monitor and regularly report to the legislature on
  each institution of higher education's compliance with the
  requirements of Subsection (e); and
               (3)  receive and review information concerning the
  affordability and accessibility of higher education[, including
  the impact of tuition deregulation].
         SECTION 4.  The heading to Chapter 54, Education Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 54. TUITION, [AND] FEES, AND OTHER STUDENT CHARGES
         SECTION 5.  The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 54,
  Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E. OTHER FEES, [AND] DEPOSITS, OR CHARGES
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 54.5001 and 54.5002 to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.5001.  LIMITATIONS ON FEE AMOUNTS.
  (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter or
  other law, in any academic year, the governing board of an
  institution of higher education 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 2015-2016 academic year.
         (b)  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 institution of higher education.
         Sec. 54.5002.  LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNT OF CERTAIN CHARGES.
  Notwithstanding any other law, an institution of higher education
  may not charge to a student for on-campus housing, parking, or
  meals, or for any other on-campus good or service the charge for
  which is set by the institution, an amount that is greater than the
  amount the institution would have charged for that good or service
  during the 2015-2016 academic year, unless the institution
  demonstrates that the increase is justified by an increase in
  underlying costs for the good or service, such as labor or supply
  costs, as demonstrated by an increase in the consumer price index,
  as defined by Section 341.201, Finance Code, and certified by the
  Legislative Budget Board.
         SECTION 7.  This Act applies beginning with tuition, fees,
  and other charges charged by public institutions of higher
  education for the 2018 fall semester. Tuition, fees, and other
  charges charged by an institution of higher education in an
  academic period before that semester are covered by the law in
  effect before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
feedback