SRC-ARR S.B. 1763 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1763
By: Barrientos
Higher Education
3/18/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law authorizes the University of Texas System to charge
certain fees. S.B. 1763 authorizes the University of Texas System to
prorate certain fees and increase the medical service fee at component
institutions. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1763 regulates fees charged at certain institutions of
higher education. 

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 54, Education Code, by adding Section 54.011, as
follows: 

Sec. 54.011. AUTHORITY TO PRORATE FEES. Provides that a governing board of
an institution of higher education will prorate any fee that it is
authorized by this chapter to charge a student based on the length of the
semester or term for which the student is enrolled. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.50891, Education Code, by amending Subsection
(a) and adding Subsection (e), to authorize the board of regents (board) of
The University of Texas System (system) to charge each student registered
at a component institution of the system a medical services fee not to
exceed $70, rather than $55, for each semester of the regular term.
Requires a majority of  the medical services fee committee at the
University of Texas at Austin to approve the fee increase. Provides that
if, in an academic year, the fee charged each student under this section is
more than 10 percent higher than the previous year's fee, the increase is
not effective unless approved by a majority vote of the students voting in
an election held for that purpose or by a majority vote of the duly elected
student government. Requires the board to prorate the fee allowed under
this section based on the length of semester or term for which the student
is enrolled. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 54.536(a), Education Code, to authorize a fee to
be used only for financing the renovation improvement, operation,
maintenance, or replacement of the student health center building at the
university. 

SECTION 4. Amends Section 54.537(a), Education Code, to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 5. Provides that this Act applies beginning with fees due for the
fall semester, 1999. 

SECTION 6. Emergency clause.
                      Effective date: upon passage.