House Bill 234

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-103-25, TO PROVIDE THAT A RESIDENT STUDENT WHO ATTENDS A STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING SHALL NOT BE CHARGED TUITION FOR ACADEMIC YEARS SUBSEQUENT TO INITIAL ENROLLMENT THAT EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OF TUITION FOR THE INITIAL YEAR OF ENROLLMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-103-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-103-25. (1) (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subsection, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the boards of trustees of the community colleges and junior colleges are authorized to prescribe the amount of tuition and fees to be paid by students attending the several state-supported institutions of higher learning and community colleges and junior colleges of the State of Mississippi.

(b) A Mississippi resident, who initially enrolls as an undergraduate student at a state-supported institution of higher learning for the academic year 2004-2005, or for any academic year thereafter, shall not be charged tuition for a subsequent academic year in an amount that exceeds the amount of tuition charged the student for his or her first academic year of enrollment:

(i) For the next three (3) consecutive academic years at the same institution; or

(ii) If the undergraduate program in which the student is enrolled requires more than four (4) years to complete, for the normal time determined by the institution as necessary to complete the program at that institution.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the total tuition to be paid by residents of other states shall not be less than the average cost per student from appropriated funds. However, the tuition to be paid by a resident of another state shall be equal to the tuition amount established under subsection (1) of this section if:

(a) The nonresident student was born in the State of Mississippi but subsequently relocated and resided outside the state as a minor under the care of the minor's father or mother, or both;

(b) The nonresident student is a veteran who served in the Armed Forces of the United States; and

(c) The nonresident student is domiciled in Mississippi no later than six (6) months after the nonresident student's separation from service, as evidenced by a Report of Separation from Military Service or other military discharge document, for the purpose of enrolling in a state institution of higher learning or a community or junior college.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.