SRC-ARR S.B. 979 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 979
By: Haywood
Higher Education
8/5/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, the Midwestern State University Health Center is staffed by a
full-time registered nurse, full-time licensed vocational nurse, and a
part-time doctor who works five hours a week. The Student Government
Association,  through the representative student senate, voted unanimously
to request the administration to proceed with the protocol to provide a
full-time doctor on the campus. S.B. 979 authorizes the adoption of a fee
to be used to provide medical services to students at Midwestern State
University. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 979 authorizes the adoption of a fee to be used to
provide medical services to students at Midwestern State University. 

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 54.5082,
as follows: 

Sec. 54.508. MEDICAL SERVICES FEE; MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY. Authorizes
the board of regents of Midwestern State University (board) to charge each
student registered at the university a medical services fee not to exceed
$30 for each semester of the regular term or 12-week summer session and not
to exceed $15 for each six-week or shorter term of the summer session.
Prohibits the board from imposing a fee under this section or increasing
the amount of the fee by more than 10 percent in any academic year unless
the imposition or increase has been approved by a majority vote of the
students at the institution participating in an election called for that
purpose. Authorizes revenue from a fee imposed under this section to be
used only to provide medical services to students at the university.
Provides that a fee imposed under this section is in addition to any other
fee the board is authorized by law to impose. 

SECTION 2. Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies
beginning with fees imposed for the 1999 fall semester.  

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