MMA H.B. 2923 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


HIGHER EDUCATION
H.B. 2923
By: Coleman
4-9-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

The Urban Academic Village Program at Texas Southern University is part of
the on-campus residency for freshmen and sophomores that begins Fall 1998.
Texas Southern University's current medical service facility will not be
able to meet the expected increase in medical service needs due to the
on-campus residency program. The number of students currently being served
and the anticipated increase in resident students will cause the present
facility to be overwhelmed with service requests.  New resources to expand
services and staff are required.  Charging a medical services fee to be
used for capital improvements to the medical services facility would help
meet current and anticipated needs for medical services at Texas Southern
University.  

PURPOSE

H.B.  2923 will allow Texas Southern University to levy and collect a fee
from each student to finance capital improvement projects for the medical
services facility. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, by adding
Section 54.5222 to read as follows: 
 Sec. 54.5222.  MEDICAL SERVICES FEE; TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. 
(a) Authorizes the board of regents of Texas Southern University (board)
to charge enrolled students a medical services fee not to exceed $35 per
student for each semester of the regular session and not to exceed $17.50
per student for each term of the summer session, to be used for the sole
purpose of operating, maintaining, improving and equipping the medical
services facility and acquiring and constructing additions to the medical
services facility.  States that a fee collected under this section is in
addition to any other use or service fee authorized to be levied. 
(b) Requires that fees collected under this section be deposited to an
account known as "Texas Southern University Medical Services Fee Account"
and under the control of the student fee advisory committee (committee). 
(c) Requires the committee to annually submit to the board a complete
itemized budget with a full and complete report of all services and
expenditures during the past year. Allows the board to make changes to the
budget as it deems necessary. Authorizes the board to levy fees to meet
the budgetary needs of the facility. Allows the board to contract for
construction if the approved budget contains construction expenditures. 
(d)  Prohibits the board from increasing the medical service fee by more
than 10 percent in any academic year unless approved by a majority of the
students or by a majority of the student government. 
(e)  Prohibits fees charged under this section to be considered in
determining the maximum student services fee under Section 54.503(b). 
(f) Mandates that the board allow recommendations by students and
employees regarding services provided at the medical facility before
charging a fee. 
 
SECTION 2.  Effective with fees imposed for a semester or summer session
that begins on or after the effective date of this Act. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.