HBA-EDN, CBW H.B. 152 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 152
By: Brown, Fred
Higher Education
2/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, undergraduate tuition rates are uniform for the spring,
summer, and fall sessions at Texas institutions of higher education.  In
Texas, more classes are taken during the fall and spring semesters than
during the summer session.  Because financial aid is usually packaged on a
nine-month, two-semester basis, there is not as much financial aid
available for summer session students.  Many Texas students spend more than
five years obtaining a bachelors degree, so an incentive to take a larger
course load during a summer session could decrease the time it takes most
students to earn a degree.   Students who graduate in an expedient manner
incur less debt and create less financial burden to the state.  House Bill
152 reduces summer session tuition at the undergraduate level at all Texas
universities to provide students with a financial incentive to take a
larger number of classes during the summer session.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 152 amends the Education Code to change the cost of tuition
charged to a  resident student at a general academic teaching institution
for a summer term or session.  The bill sets forth that tuition for a
resident student for a summer term or session of 12 weeks or more be the
greater of $60 for the term or session or $20 per semester credit hour.
The bill provides that tuition for a resident student for a summer term or
session of less than 12 weeks be the greater of $30 for the term or session
or $20 per semester credit hour.   In addition, the bill provides that a
governing board of an institution of higher education is authorized to
charge as tuition a maximum of $20 per semester credit hour for a summer
term or session. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2002 and applies beginning with a session, term, or semester
beginning on or after the effective date.