Sec. 54.008.  TUITION RATE SET BY GOVERNING BOARD.  (a)  The tuition rates provided by Subchapter B of this chapter are minimum rates.  Except as provided by Subsections (e), (f), and (g), the governing board of each institution of higher education shall set tuition for graduate programs for that institution at a rate that is at least equal to that prescribed by Subchapter B, but that is not more than twice the rate prescribed by Subchapter B. Between the maximum and minimum rates, the board may set the differential tuition among programs offered by an institution of higher education.
(b)  The governing board of a university system is not required to set uniform tuition rates for graduate programs among the component institutions of the system.
(c)  The limit on tuition rates provided by Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to tuition at a public junior college.
(d)  The difference between the minimum rate prescribed by Subchapter B of this chapter and that set by the governing board of an institution of higher education for an institution shall not be accounted for in an appropriations act in such a way as to reduce the general revenue appropriations to that institution.
(e)  The governing board of an institution of higher education shall set tuition for an optometry program at the institution at a rate that is at least equal to the rate prescribed by Subchapter B of this chapter but not more than four times the rate prescribed by Subchapter B of this chapter.
(f)  The governing board of an institution of higher education shall set tuition for an undergraduate pharmacy program at the institution at a rate that is at least equal to the rate prescribed by Subchapter B but not more than twice the rate prescribed by Subchapter B. The governing board of an institution of higher education shall set tuition for a graduate or professional pharmacy program at the institution at a rate that is at least equal to the rate prescribed by Subchapter B but not more than three times the rate prescribed by Subchapter B.
(g)  The governing board of an institution of higher education shall set tuition for a law school at the institution at a rate that is at least equal to the rate prescribed by Subchapter B but not more than three times the rate prescribed by Subchapter B.
Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 823, Sec. 1.10, eff. June 20, 1987.  Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 451, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 89, Sec. 1, eff. May 14, 1999;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 655, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg,  ch.  773, Sec. 1, eff. June 13, 2001.