SRC-HRD S.B. 1808 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1808
By: Barrientos
Finance
4-27-97
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 

Currently, the University of Texas at Austin charges a $1.00 fee to
students per semester or summer session as a source of financial
assistance for students in international student exchange and study abroad
programs.  However, the current fee is insufficient to meet the increased
demand for the program and costs associated with the program have risen
substantially.  This bill would increase the fee to $2 per semester or
summer session to assist the university in meeting the demand and
increased costs for international student exchange and study abroad
programs. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1808 authorizes the board of regents of the University
of Texas System to charge and collect from students registered at the
University of Texas at Austin a fee of $ 2 for any semester or summer
session to be used only for funding an international education program. 

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 54.5131(a), Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 54.5131.  INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT
AUSTIN.  Authorizes the board of regents of the University of Texas System
to charge and collect from students registered at the institution a fee of
$2.00, rather than $1, for any semester or summer session.  Authorizes the
fee to be increased to an amount not to exceed $4.00, if approved by the
students in a student referendum.  Provides that the fee may only be used
for funding an international education program, rather than financial aid
fund, to be used to assist students participating in international student
exchange or study programs. 

SECTION 2. Provides that the changes made by this Act to Section 54.5131,
Education Code, apply beginning with the fall semester, 1997. 

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



SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amendment 1.

Page 1, line 6, replace "$4.00" with "$2.00.

Page 1, line 7, insert after "session.": "The fee may be increased to an
amount not to exceed $4.00 if approved by the students in a student
referendum."