BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1510 By: Duncan (Montford) Finance 05-16-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The University Center (UC) at Texas Tech University was built in 1951 and is in need of renovation and restoration. The cap on the UC fee at has not been raised since 1981. The fee increase has received student endorsement and is supported by a student government resolution. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1510 raises the cap on the Texas Tech University Center fee from $20 to $50 in regular semesters and from $10 to $25 during summer semesters and allows the board of regents of Texas Tech University to raise the university fee up to 10 percent of its current level without a student vote. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 54.524(a), Education Code, to authorize the board of regents of Texas Tech University to levy a regular student fee not to exceed $50, rather than $20, per student for each semester of the long session and not to exceed $25, rather than $10, per student for each term of summer session, or any fractional part thereof, as may in their discretion be just and necessary for the sole purpose of operating, maintaining, and improving the University Center. Requires any increase in the fee of more than 10 percent from one academic year to the next to be approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general election called for that purpose or by a majority vote of the student government. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with fees due for the fall semester of 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.