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


Senate Research Center   S.B. 979
By: Haywood
Higher Education
3/16/1999
As Filed


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 proposed, 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 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 compulsory medical services fee from being levied unless the
levy of the fee has been approved by a majority vote of those students at
Midwestern State University participating in a general student election
called for that purpose. Provides that if, in an academic year, the total
compulsory fee charged under this section is more than 10 percent higher
than the compulsory fee charged under this section for the previous
academic year, the increase does not take effect unless it is approved by a
majority vote of the students voting in an election held for that purpose.
Authorizes a medical services fee charged under this section to be used
only to provide medical services to students registered at the university.
Provides that a medical services fee charged under this section is in
addition to any other fee the board is authorized by law to charge. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
                         Effective date: upon passage.