BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1912
88R7875 JTZ-F	By: Button et al. (West)
	Education
	5/3/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The University of Texas at Dallas is anticipating the construction of a new student union building on the university's campus, as the university has seen significant growth in its enrollment and additional spaces and services are needed to meet the demands of a growing student body. A referendum was issued to the student body to vote on an increase in student union fees per semester from $60 to $100, which received a majority vote in favor of the increase for the purposes of financing the construction. H.B. 1912 seeks to raise the maximum student union fee that The University of Texas at Dallas may charge a student to $100 per semester, which may be used for financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving student union buildings for the university.

H.B. 1912 amends the Education Code to raise the cap on the student union fee for student union buildings at The University of Texas at Dallas from $60 to $100 per student for each regular semester, and from $40 to $50 per student for each term of the summer session. The bill limits the authorized increase of the fee to 10 percent of the amount of the fee during the preceding academic year. The bill applies beginning with fees imposed for the 2024 fall semester. 

H.B. 1912 amends current law relating to student buildings fees at The University of Texas at Dallas.

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 the heading to Section 54.531, Education Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 54.531. STUDENT UNION BUILDINGS FEES; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.531, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2), as follows:

(a) Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System (board) to levy a student union fee, not to exceed $100 per student for each regular semester and not to exceed $50 per student for each term of the summer session, for the sole purpose of financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving student union buildings for The University of Texas at Dallas.

Deletes existing text authorizing the board to levy a student union fee, not to exceed $60 per student for each regular semester and not to exceed $40 per student for each term of the summer session, for the sole purpose of financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving a student union building for The University of Texas at Dallas; provided, however, that the fee is prohibited from being increased above $40 per student for each regular semester and $26.67 per student for each term of the summer session unless the increase is approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general election held for that purpose.

(a-1) Prohibits the amount of the fee levied under this section from being increased to an amount that exceeds by 10 percent or more the amount of the fee levied during the preceding academic year unless the increase is approved by a majority vote of students enrolled at the university participating in a general student election held for that purpose. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

(a-2) Creates this subsection from existing text. Provides that the fee, rather than the fees herein, authorized to be levied under this section is in addition to any use or service fee, rather than use or service fee now or hereafter, authorized to be levied. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 3. Amends the heading to Section 54.5312, Education Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 54.5312. STUDENT SERVICES BUILDINGS FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 54.5312(a), Education Code, to authorize the board to impose on each student enrolled at The University of Texas at Dallas a student services buildings fee, rather than building fee, for the sole purpose of financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving student services buildings at the university. Makes conforming changes.

SECTION 5. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply beginning with fees imposed for the 2024 fall semester.

SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2023.