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.