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."