SRC-MWN H.B. 462 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 462
By: Crownover, Myra (Haywood)
Education
4/29/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the board of regents of the University of North Texas
(board) is authorized to charge enrolled students no more than $25 a
semester for the medical services fee. Since the fall semester of 1997, the
board has been charging enrolled students the maximum $25 a semester which
may be no longer sufficient. The board has requested legislation to raise
the maximum medical services fee to provide adequate medical services to
enrolled students. H.B. 462 authorizes the board to raise the maximum
medical services fee and provides provisions for any further rise in the
fee.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 54.5081, Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 54.5081. New heading: MEDICAL SERVICES FEE; UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS. (a) Authorizes the board of regents (board), rather
than the governing board, of the University of North Texas System to charge
each student registered at a component institution of the University of
North Texas System a medical services fee not to exceed $75, rather than
$25, for each semester of the regular term or 12-week summer session and
not to exceed $37.50, rather than $12.50, for each six-week or shorter term
of the summer session. Makes a nonsubstantive change. 

(b) Requires the board, before charging a medical services fee at a
component institution, to give students and administrators an opportunity
to offer recommendations to the board as to the type and scope of medical
services that should be provided. 

(c) Prohibits the board from increasing the amount of the medical services
fee charged at a component institution by more than 10 percent from one
academic year to the next unless the amount of the increase is approved by
a majority of the students at the institution voting in a general election
held at the institution for that purpose. 

(d) Authorizes a medical service fee charged at a component institution of
the University of North Texas System under this section to be used only to
provide medical services to students registered at that component
institution, rather than the university. 

(e) Prohibits the fee imposed under this section from being considered in
determining the maximum student fee that may be charged students enrolled
at a component institution of the University of North Texas System, rather
than the university, under Section 54.503(b). Makes a nonsubstantive
change. 

(f) Provides that the maximum fee amounts imposed by Subsection (a) and the
prohibition imposed by Subsection (c) do not apply to the 2001 fall
semester. Prohibits the board, for the 2001 fall semester, from increasing
the amount of the medical services fee charged at a component institution
of the University of North Texas System to an amount more than $30 unless
the increase is approved by a majority of the students at the institution
voting in an election held for that purpose. Provides that this subsection
expires January 1, 2002. 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2001 fall
semester. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.