BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 480
87R6064 CXP-F	By: Miles
	Higher Education
	3/17/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The University of Houston's student center fee has been used to help pay for the costs of construction and financing, operations, maintenance, and improvements throughout the years. S.B. 480 amends current statute to expand the purpose of the fee to include programming so that the university may use current funds specific to student programs and put them towards mental health services needs for the university's student population. This would increase funding for mental health services needs at the University of Houston.

As proposed, S.B. 480 amends current law relating to the student union fee at the University of Houston.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 54.526(a), Education Code, to include among the purposes for which the fee levied by the board of regents of the University of Houston System (UH) may be used, the purpose of providing programming at a Student Union Building for UH.

SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 54.526(c) (relating to prohibiting a student union fee from being charged after the fifth academic year in which the fee is first charged), Education Code.

SECTION 3. Provides that Section 54.526, Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies to student fees imposed for a semester or term beginning before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.