1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to student center fees at Texas Southern University.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 54.522, Education Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 54.522. STUDENT CENTER FEES; TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
1-7 (a) The board of regents of Texas Southern University may levy and
1-8 collect a student fee not to exceed $35 [$15] per student for each
1-9 semester of the long session and not to exceed $17.50 [$7.50] per
1-10 student for each term of the summer session, from each student
1-11 enrolled in Texas Southern University, as may in its discretion be
1-12 just and necessary for the purpose of operating, maintaining,
1-13 improving, and equipping the student center and acquiring or
1-14 constructing additions to the student center. A fee collected
1-15 under this section is in addition to any other use or service fee
1-16 authorized to be levied.
1-17 (b) The fees collected under this section shall be deposited
1-18 to the credit of an account known as the "Texas Southern University
1-19 Student Center Fee Account" and shall be under the control of the
1-20 student fee advisory committee established under Section 54.5031.
1-21 [If approved by student vote as required by this subsection, the
1-22 board of regents of Texas Southern University may impose on each
1-23 student enrolled in Texas Southern University an additional $5 fee
1-24 per student for each semester of the long session and an additional
2-1 $2.50 fee for each student for each term of the summer session.
2-2 The fee may not be imposed unless the fee has been approved by a
2-3 majority of those students voting on the issue in a general student
2-4 election in which the issue is presented. The board shall deposit
2-5 the fees collected under this subsection in a special fund outside
2-6 the state treasury. The money in the special fund shall be used
2-7 for the sole purpose of the renovation and improvement of the
2-8 student center at Texas Southern University. Money from the fund
2-9 may not be spent or a reimbursement made from the fund unless the
2-10 expenditure has the prior approval of the board and a voucher is
2-11 used for the expenditure. The board shall develop a plan for the
2-12 renovation and improvements of the student center. The renovations
2-13 and improvements shall be completed before the beginning of the
2-14 fall semester 1995. The board may not impose the fee authorized by
2-15 this subsection for or after the fall semester 1995.]
2-16 (c) The student fee advisory committee annually shall submit
2-17 to the board of regents a complete and itemized budget for the
2-18 student center with a complete report of all student center
2-19 activities conducted during the past year and all expenditures made
2-20 in connection with those activities. The board of regents may make
2-21 changes in the budget that the board determines are necessary.
2-22 After approving the budget, the board of regents, in accordance
2-23 with this section, may levy the student center fees for that year
2-24 in amounts sufficient to meet the budgetary needs of the student
2-25 center.
2-26 (d) The board may not increase the amount of the student
2-27 center fee by more than 10 percent in any academic year unless the
3-1 amount of the increase is approved by a majority of the students
3-2 voting in an election held for that purpose or by a majority of the
3-3 student government of the institution.
3-4 (e) A fee levied under this section may not be considered in
3-5 determining the maximum student services fee that may be charged
3-6 under Section 54.503(b).
3-7 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
3-8 to a fee imposed for a semester or summer session that begins on or
3-9 after the effective date of this Act. A fee imposed for a semester
3-10 or summer session that begins before the effective date of this Act
3-11 is governed by the law in effect before the effective date, and the
3-12 former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
3-13 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-18 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-19 passage, and it is so enacted.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2411 was passed by the House on April
25, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 1, 3 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2411 was passed by the Senate on May
19, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor