BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 480

By: Miles

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The University of Houston's student union fee has previously been used to help pay for the costs of constructing, financing, operating, maintaining, and improving the student union building; however, the fee is not currently authorized to be used for programming offered at such a building. There have been calls to permit that use of funds attributable to the fee in order to improve certain student mental health services. S.B. 480 seeks to expand the authorized uses of a student union fee imposed by the University of Houston System to include provision of programming at a student union building.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 480 amends the Education Code to expand the purposes of the student union fee levied by the University of Houston System to include providing programming at a student union building. The bill applies to student fees imposed for a semester or term beginning before, on, or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.