PRINTER'S NO. 3672
No. 2481 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY M. SMITH, DePASQUALE, R. TAYLOR, BELFANTI, CLYMER,
COHEN, CREIGHTON, FRANKEL, GOODMAN, HORNAMAN, KORTZ, KULA,
MANN, McILVAINE SMITH, REICHLEY, SOLOBAY, THOMAS, VULAKOVICH,
WATERS AND J. WHITE, MAY 2, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 2, 2008
AN ACT
1 Providing for a fixed tuition rate schedule by institutions of
2 higher education for undergraduate students.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Truth in
7 Tuition Act.
8 Section 2. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Community college." An institution now or hereafter created
13 pursuant to Article XIX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
14 No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.
15 "Fees." All charges imposed by an institution of higher
16 education upon students in excess of tuition.
17 "Independent institution of higher education." An
1 institution of higher education that is operated not for profit,
2 located in and incorporated or chartered by the Commonwealth,
3 entitled to confer degrees as set forth in 24 Pa.C.S. Ch. 65
4 (relating to private colleges, universities and seminaries) and
5 entitled to apply to itself the designation "college" or
6 "university" as provided for by standards and qualifications
7 prescribed by the State Board of Education pursuant to 24
8 Pa.C.S. Ch. 65.
9 "Institution of higher education." An independent
10 institution of higher education, a community college, a State-
11 owned institution or a State-related institution.
12 "State-owned institution." An institution that is part of
13 the State System of Higher Education pursuant to Article XX-A of
14 the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
15 School Code of 1949.
16 "State-related institution." Any of the following: The
17 Pennsylvania State University; the University of Pittsburgh;
18 Temple University and Lincoln University and their branch
19 campuses.
20 Section 3. Scope.
21 This act relates to institutions of higher education in this
22 Commonwealth.
23 Section 4. Fixed tuition rate schedule for undergraduate
24 students.
25 (a) Tuition schedule.--A State-owned institution, State-
26 related institution or community college shall provide a
27 prospective or incoming undergraduate student with a schedule
28 stating the tuition and fees for the four academic years
29 immediately following enrollment. The schedule shall include an
30 explanation of the purpose of the fees. An independent
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1 institution of higher education may provide a four-year schedule
2 of fixed tuition and fees to prospective and incoming students.
3 (b) Fixed rate.--Except as otherwise provided by this
4 section, a State-owned institution, State-related institution or
5 community college may not charge tuition and fees to an
6 undergraduate student at a rate that exceeds the rate shown on
7 the tuition schedule provided under subsection (a).
8 (c) Transfer students.--If a student enrolls in a State-
9 owned institution, State-related institution or community
10 college after transferring from another institution of higher
11 education, subsection (a) does not apply to the student after
12 the fourth anniversary of the date of that first enrollment,
13 regardless of whether the student was ever previously enrolled
14 at the institution.
15 (d) Other students.--Subsection (b) does not apply to the
16 student after the end of the standard completion period for the
17 degree program in which the student is enrolled, as established
18 by the institution awarding the degree, if the student is
19 enrolled in a degree program other than a four-year degree
20 program.
21 Section 5. Applicability.
22 This act does not apply to a student who enters a university
23 for the first time before the 2009 fall semester.
24 Section 6. Effective date.
25 This act shall take effect September 1, 2008, or immediately,
26 whichever is later.
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