(a) Tuition.

(1) The intent of §§ 6-61-101 -- 6-61-103, 6-61-201 -- 6-61-209, 6-61-212 -- 6-61-216, 6-61-301 -- 6-61-305, 6-61-401, 6-61-402, 6-61-501 -- 6-61-524, and 6-61-601 -- 6-61-603 is to make community college programs available to as many citizens of Arkansas as possible. To this end, tuition and fees should be maintained at a reasonable level so as not to exclude citizens because of cost.

(2) The local board shall determine the minimum student tuition and fees to be charged.

(3) The student fees or tuition authorized in §§ 6-61-215 and 6-53-304 shall be used for educational purposes only.

(b) Out-of-District Tuition. (1) (A) Students who come from within the state but without the district may be charged a fee in addition to the fee charged students who are residents of the district.

(B) The out-of-district fee is to be determined by the local board but is not to exceed the pro rata share of the per student cost annually paid for buildings and operations from local tax revenues.

(C) However, when one (1) or more residents of a county not in a community college district attend a community college, the county of residence of these students may, when funds are appropriated therefor by the quorum court of the county, pay the tuition of these students which exceeds the tuition charged in-district students.

(2) Out-of-state students may be charged a fee in addition to the fee charged students who are residents of the district in the amount determined by the local board.

(c) Activity Fees. To provide for a student activity program at the college, the local board may levy a student activity fee.

(d) Special Fees. The local board of each community college may levy special fees for special programs, short courses, seminars, or like activities at a level to defray the cost of special activities.