THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY M. SMITH, BARRAR, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, D. COSTA, DeLUCA, DePASQUALE, FRANKEL, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, HALUSKA, MANN, McGEEHAN, PALLONE, SIPTROTH, VULAKOVICH, WALKO AND WHITE, FEBRUARY 13, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 13, 2009  

AN ACT

Providing for a fixed tuition rate schedule by institutions of

higher education for undergraduate students.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Truth in

Tuition Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Community college."  An institution now or hereafter created

pursuant to Article XIX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,

No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.

"Fees."  All charges imposed by an institution of higher

education upon students in excess of tuition.

"Independent institution of higher education."  An

institution of higher education that is operated not for profit,

located in and incorporated or chartered by the Commonwealth,

entitled to confer degrees as set forth in 24 Pa.C.S. Ch. 65 

(relating to private colleges, universities and seminaries) and

entitled to apply to itself the designation "college" or

"university" as provided for by standards and qualifications

prescribed by the State Board of Education pursuant to 24

Pa.C.S. Ch. 65.

"Institution of higher education."  An independent

institution of higher education, a community college, a State-

owned institution or a State-related institution.

"State-owned institution."  An institution that is part of

the State System of Higher Education pursuant to Article XX-A of

the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public

School Code of 1949.

"State-related institution."  Any of the following: The

Pennsylvania State University; the University of Pittsburgh;

Temple University and Lincoln University and their branch

campuses.

Section 3.  Scope.

This act relates to institutions of higher education in this

Commonwealth.

Section 4.  Fixed tuition rate schedule for undergraduate

students.

(a)  Tuition schedule.--A State-owned institution, State-

related institution or community college shall provide a

prospective or incoming undergraduate student with a schedule

stating the tuition and fees for the four academic years

immediately following enrollment. The schedule shall include an

explanation of the purpose of the fees. An independent

institution of higher education may provide a four-year schedule

of fixed tuition and fees to prospective and incoming students.

(b)  Fixed rate.--Except as otherwise provided by this

section, a State-owned institution, State-related institution or

community college may not charge tuition and fees to an

undergraduate student at a rate that exceeds the rate shown on

the tuition schedule provided under subsection (a).

(c)  Transfer students.--If a student enrolls in a State-

owned institution, State-related institution or community

college after transferring from another institution of higher

education, subsection (a) does not apply to the student after

the fourth anniversary of the date of that first enrollment,

regardless of whether the student was ever previously enrolled

at the institution.

(d)  Other students.--Subsection (b) does not apply to the

student after the end of the standard completion period for the

degree program in which the student is enrolled, as established

by the institution awarding the degree, if the student is

enrolled in a degree program other than a four-year degree

program.

Section 5.  Applicability.

This act does not apply to a student who enters a university

for the first time before the 2010 fall semester.

Section 6.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect September 1, 2009, or immediately,

whichever is later.