88R6411 JTZ-D
	By: Hughes	S.B. No. 473

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to providing information to undergraduate students
	regarding certain fixed or flat tuition rates provided by certain
	public institutions of higher education.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 54.016, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  A general academic teaching institution that offers a
	fixed tuition rate program under this section shall provide
	information explaining the effect of the program on the calculation
	of a student's cost per credit hour, including the institution's
	current fixed tuition rate, and clearly describing the amount of
	tuition a student would pay for varying course loads covered by the
	program:
	(1)  to each transferring undergraduate student, at the
	time the student is offered the opportunity to participate in the
	institution's fixed tuition rate program;
	(2)  for a student enrolled in the institution's fixed
	tuition rate program, in materials or correspondence provided to
	the student each time the student registers for a semester or other
	term and in each tuition billing statement;
	(3)  on the institution's Internet website; and
	(4)  in any financial aid information provided to
	students.
	SECTION 2.  Section 54.017, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
	(h)  An institution to which this section applies shall
	provide information explaining the effect of the fixed tuition
	price plan on the calculation of a student's cost per credit hour,
	including the institution's current fixed tuition rate, and clearly
	describing the amount of tuition a student would pay for varying
	course loads covered by the plan:
	(1)  to each entering undergraduate student, at the
	time the student is offered the opportunity to participate in the
	institution's fixed tuition price plan;
	(2)  for a student enrolled in the institution's fixed
	tuition price plan, in materials or correspondence provided to the
	student each time the student registers for a semester or other term
	and in each tuition billing statement;
	(3)  on the institution's Internet website; and
	(4)  in any financial aid information provided to
	students.
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 54.018 to read as follows:
	Sec. 54.018.  FLAT-RATE TUITION PLAN. (a) In this section,
	"institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 61.003.
	(b)  An institution of higher education that offers a
	flat-rate tuition plan under which the institution charges a
	student for a specified number of credit hours regardless of the
	number of credit hours in which the student enrolls shall provide
	information explaining the effect of the flat-rate tuition plan on
	the calculation of a student's cost per credit hour, including the
	institution's current flat rate of tuition, and clearly describing
	the amount of tuition a student would pay for varying course loads
	covered by the plan:
	(1)  to each entering undergraduate student;
	(2)  in materials or correspondence provided to the
	student each time the student registers for a semester or other term
	and in each tuition billing statement;
	(3)  on the institution's Internet website; and
	(4)  in any financial aid information provided to
	students.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 54.016, Education Code 54.017 (Education Code 54)