SRC-JJJ C.S.S.B. 332 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 332 76R10184 JSA-DBy: Moncrief Education 4/6/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Currently, public and private institutions of higher education in Texas offer a wide range of internship opportunities in the Washington, D.C. area, and are typically arranged at the academic department level in each institution. Internships often combine intense practical work experience and certain types of course work, which can lead to internships costing a student quite a bit of money. C.S.S.B. 332 would authorize institutions of higher education to impose a fee to support Washington, D.C., internships and would abolish the Texas-Washington, D.C., intern scholarship program. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 332 authorizes institutions of higher education to impose a fee to support Washington, D.C., internships and abolishes the Texas-Washington, D.C., intern scholarship 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 Chapter 54E, Education Code, by adding Section 54.5134, as follows: Sec. 54.5134. WASHINGTON, D.C., INTERNSHIP EDUCATION FEE. Authorizes the governing board of an institution of higher education to collect from each student registered at the institution a fee not to exceed $1 per semester or summer session, if imposition of the fee is approved by a majority vote of the students of the institution participating in a general student election held for that purpose. Authorizes the amount of the fee imposed at an institution to be increased from one academic year to the next by more than 10 percent only if approved by a majority of the vote of the participating students. Requires revenue from the fee to be deposited in a fund established by the institution outside the state treasury and identified as the institution's Washington, D.C., internship financial aid fund (fund). Authorizes money in the fund to be used only to assist a student participating in a Washington, D.C. internship program administered by the institution. Authorizes the fund to be used in accordance with guidelines jointly developed by the student governing body and the administration of the institution. Provides that if a school has no student governing body, the president may appoint a committee of students to assist with the development of the guidelines. Prohibits a fee under this section from being considered in determining the maximum amount of student services fees that may be charged. SECTION 2.(a) Repealer: Chapter 56L, Education Code (Texas-Washington, D.C., Intern Scholarship Program). (b) Establishes that the repeal does not affect a grant awarded under that subchapter before the effective date of this section or the completion of the internship pursuant to the grant, and the repealed law remains in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. (a) Provides that SECTION 1 of this Act applies beginning with the 1999 fall semester. (b) Effective date of SECTION 2: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 54.5134, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a), to authorize the governing board to change a fee, if imposition of the fee is approved by a majority vote of the students. Adds Subsection (b) to authorize the fee to be increased by more than 10 percent only if approved by a majority vote of the students. Reletters subsequent subsections.