SRC-HRD S.B. 1467 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1467
By: Ellis
Finance
4-13-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

The student center at Texas Southern University serves as the hub of
campus life for the university family--students, faculty, administration,
alumni, and guests.  The building houses a cafeteria, snack bar, ice cream
shop, bookstore, offices of student activities, student government
association, university program council, student publications, a game
room, and meeting rooms.  Constructed in 1974 to accommodate a student
population of approximately 7,000, the building is in need of resources to
provide for timely maintenance and improvements to address the demands of
the current clientele.  The building's aging factor, along with the
increased cost of goods and services have created a demand for increased
funds to routinely operate, improve, and maintain the student center. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1467 allows an increase in student fees at Texas
Southern University to meet the current demands of the student center.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 54.522, Education Code, to authorize the board
of regents of Texas Southern University to levy and collect a student fee
not to exceed $35, rather than $15, per student for each semester of long
session and not to exceed $17.50, rather than $7.50 per student for each
term of the summer session, from each student enrolled in Texas Southern
University.  Provides that a fee collected under this section is in
addition to any other use or service fee authorized to be levied. Requires
the fees collected under this section to be deposited to the credit of an
account known as the "Texas Southern University Student Center Fee
Account" and to be under the control of the student fee advisory committee
established under Section 54.5031.  Deletes existing Subsection (e)
regarding certain fees.  Requires the student fee advisory committee to
annually submit to the board of regents a complete and itemized budget for
the student center with a complete report of all student center activities
conducted during the past year and all expenditures made in connection
with those activities.  Authorizes the board of regents to make changes in
the budget that the board determines are necessary.  Authorizes the board
of regents, after approving the budget, in accordance with this section,
to levy the student center fees for that year in amounts sufficient to
meet the budgetary needs of the student center.  Prohibits the board from
increasing the amount of the student center fee by more than 10 percent in
any academic year unless the amount of the increase is approved by a
majority of the students voting in an election held for that purpose or by
a majority of the student government of the institution.  Prohibits a fee
levied under this section from being considering in determining the
maximum student services fee that may be charged under Section 54.503(b). 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.