Senate File 189 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY ANGELO, WARD, SEYMOUR, ZAUN, McKINLEY, McKIBBEN, GASKILL, HAHN, JOHNSON, and WIECK Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to tuition rates at state universities by 2 providing resident status to the children of alumni and by 3 creating a college costs predictability program to be 4 administered by the state board of regents. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 1719XS 82 7 kh/es/88 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 262.9, subsection 23, Code 2007, is 1 2 amended to read as follows: 1 3 23. Develop a policy and adopt rulesrelating to the 1 4 establishment of tuition rates which provide a predictable 1 5 basis for assessing and anticipating changes inproviding that 1 6 any person who does not meet the residency requirements 1 7 established by the board for tuition and fee purposes, but 1 8 whose parents both graduated from an institution of higher 1 9 education governed by the board, shall be considered a 1 10 resident of the state for tuitionratesand fee purposes. 1 11 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 262.34C COLLEGE COSTS 1 12 PREDICTABILITY PROGRAM. 1 13 1. A college costs predictability program is created to be 1 14 administered by the state board of regents for purposes of 1 15 providing predictability in college tuition and fee costs 1 16 throughout a resident freshman's full=time pursuit of an 1 17 undergraduate degree at an institution of higher learning 1 18 under the control of the board. 1 19 2. By December 1 annually, the board shall establish for 1 20 each institution of higher learning under its control, a fixed 1 21 rate tuition and fee plan for the following school year for 1 22 resident first=time freshmen who enroll full=time in an 1 23 undergraduate degree program. If a student continues to meet 1 24 grade expectations established by rule by the board, the plan 1 25 shall be in effect for the student until the student graduates 1 26 with an undergraduate degree. While the plan is in effect for 1 27 a student, the institution shall charge not more than the 1 28 tuition and fee rate established in the tuition and fee plan 1 29 at the time the student enrolled as a freshman. The average 1 30 annual rate of growth of the tuition and fees established by 1 31 the board for the fixed rate tuition plan shall not exceed the 1 32 percentage increase in the most recently published higher 1 33 education price index. 1 34 3. If the tuition and fees established by the board for 1 35 the fixed rate tuition and fee plan for the next academic year 2 1 are less than the tuition and fees charged under the current 2 2 or a prior academic year's fixed rate tuition and fee plan, 2 3 the board shall lower the tuition and fees charged under the 2 4 current or prior fixed rate tuition plans which are in effect 2 5 to the same rates established under the fixed rate tuition and 2 6 fee plan for the next academic year. 2 7 4. If a full=time resident student transfers from one 2 8 institution of higher learning under the control of the board 2 9 to another such institution, the institution to which the 2 10 student transfers shall charge the student an amount for 2 11 tuition and fees that does not exceed the amount the student 2 12 was charged when the student enrolled as a first=time freshman 2 13 at the previous institution. 2 14 5. The plan shall continue in effect for a student who, as 2 15 a result of a hardship or other good cause shown, is unable to 2 16 meet grade expectations as a full=time student in accordance 2 17 with subsection 2, even if the student must suspend enrollment 2 18 or attend part=time. For purposes of this subsection, 2 19 hardship or other good cause includes a showing of at least 2 20 one of the following: 2 21 a. A severe illness or other debilitating condition that 2 22 affects the student's ability to satisfy the academic and 2 23 attendance requirements of the institution at which the 2 24 student enrolled. 2 25 b. The student's responsibility for the care of a sick, 2 26 injured, or needy person if the provision of care affects the 2 27 student's ability to satisfy the academic and attendance 2 28 requirements of the institution at which the student enrolled. 2 29 c. The student is unable to complete a degree program as a 2 30 full=time student because a course is unavailable due to a 2 31 lack of available classes or class space. 2 32 d. The student, with the approval of the institution, 2 33 changes the student's major or degree program and needs 2 34 additional time to complete an undergraduate degree in the new 2 35 major or degree program. 3 1 Sec. 3. TRANSITIONAL PROVISION. A resident full=time 3 2 student enrolled in an institution of higher learning under 3 3 the control of the state board of regents during the 2007=2008 3 4 academic year shall be allowed to participate in the fixed 3 5 rate tuition and fee plan established by the board in 3 6 accordance with section 262.34C for resident first=time 3 7 freshmen who enroll full=time in an undergraduate degree 3 8 program during the 2008=2009 academic year and shall be 3 9 considered a first=time freshman for purposes of the plan. 3 10 EXPLANATION 3 11 This bill creates a college costs predictability program to 3 12 be administered by the state board of regents for purposes of 3 13 providing predictability in college tuition and fee costs 3 14 throughout a resident freshman's full=time pursuit of an 3 15 undergraduate degree at a regents university. The bill also 3 16 requires the board to adopt rules to confer resident status, 3 17 for purposes of determining tuition rates, on the child of 3 18 parents who both graduated from a state university regardless 3 19 of whether the child meets the residency requirements. 3 20 The board is directed to establish, by December 1 annually, 3 21 for each state university, a fixed rate tuition and fee plan. 3 22 While the plan is in effect for a student, the institution 3 23 shall charge not more than the tuition and fee rate 3 24 established in the tuition and fee plan at the time the 3 25 student enrolled as a freshman. If a student continues to 3 26 meet grade expectations established by rule by the board, the 3 27 plan shall be in effect for the student until the student 3 28 graduates with an undergraduate degree. 3 29 The average annual rate of growth of the tuition and fees 3 30 established by the board for the fixed rate tuition plan 3 31 cannot exceed the percentage increase in the most recently 3 32 published higher education price index. If the tuition and 3 33 fees for the next academic year's plan are less than a current 3 34 or prior year's plan, the board must lower the rates charged 3 35 under the current or prior year's plan to the rates 4 1 established for the next academic year. 4 2 Provision is made for students who transfer from one state 4 3 university to another, and for students who, as a result of a 4 4 hardship or other good cause shown, are unable to remain 4 5 continuously enrolled as a full=time student. Hardship and 4 6 good cause include showings of severe illness or other 4 7 debilitating condition; a responsibility to care for a sick, 4 8 injured, or needy person; unavailability of classes or class 4 9 space; and a university=approved change in majors or degree 4 10 programs. 4 11 The bill includes transitional language to permit resident 4 12 students currently enrolled in state universities to be 4 13 considered first=time freshmen for purposes of the plan 4 14 established for the next academic year. 4 15 LSB 1719XS 82 4 16 kh:nh/es/88.2