82R9660 KSD-D
 
  By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1727
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a fixed tuition rate program for certain students who
  transfer to a state university after completing an associate degree
  program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 54.016 to read as follows:
         Sec. 54.016.  FIXED TUITION RATE PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN
  TRANSFER STUDENTS AT GENERAL ACADEMIC TEACHING INSTITUTIONS. (a)
  In this section:
               (1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board.
               (2)  "General academic teaching institution" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
               (3)  "Lower-division institution of higher education" 
  means a public junior college, public state college, or public
  technical institute.
         (b)  A general academic teaching institution may develop a
  fixed tuition rate program for qualified students who agree to
  transfer to the institution after successfully earning an associate
  degree at a lower-division institution of higher education. Under
  a program developed under this section, a general academic teaching
  institution must:
               (1)  guarantee to a participating student enrolled in
  an associate degree program at a lower-division institution of
  higher education, on successful completion of the associate degree
  program, transfer admission to the general academic teaching
  institution and acceptance into the student's degree program of
  choice; and
               (2)  notwithstanding any other provision of this
  chapter, charge tuition to a participating student for any semester
  or other academic term at the same rate the general academic
  teaching institution would have charged to the student during the
  fall semester of the student's freshman year at another institution
  of higher education had the student entered the general academic
  teaching institution as a freshman student.
         (c)  A general academic teaching institution that develops a
  fixed tuition rate program under this section shall prescribe
  eligibility requirements for participation in the program and
  notify applicants for transfer admission from lower-division
  institutions of higher education regarding the program.
         (d)  In consultation with general academic teaching
  institutions, the coordinating board shall adopt any rules the
  coordinating board considers appropriate for the administration of
  this section.
         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.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.