SRC-MWN, CTC S.B. 1626 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1626
77R8654 KSD-DBy: Armbrister
Education
4/16/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 1626 allows the Texas State University System to charge
each student at Southwest Texas State University a $1 environmental service
fee if two-thirds of the student body approve this measure in an election
vote. S.B. 1626 also sets forth provisions regarding the authorization to
increase the fee and related procedures for students who choose not to pay
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 Chapter 54E, Education Code, by adding Section 54.5111,
as follows: 

Sec. 54.5111.  ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE FEE; SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.
(a) Authorizes the board of regents of the Texas State University System
(board), subject to Subsection (f), to charge each student enrolled at
Southwest Texas State University an environmental service fee in an initial
amount not to exceed $1 per semester of the regular term or term of the
summer session.  Prohibits the fee from being imposed unless approved by a
vote of not less than two-thirds of the students at the university voting
in an election held for that purpose at the same time and using the same
ballot as a student government election. 

(b) Authorizes the board, not more than once a year, to increase the amount
of the fee authorized by this section to cover increased operating costs of
environmental services funded from revenue from the fee.  Prohibits the
board from increasing the amount of the fee unless the increase is approved
by a majority vote of the students at the university voting in an election
held for that purpose at the same time and using the same ballot as a
student government election.  Prohibits the total amount of the increased
fee from exceeding certain amounts. 

(c) Authorizes a fee imposed under this section to be used only to provide
environmental improvements at the university through certain services. 

(d) Prohibits the university from using revenue from the fee imposed under
this section to reduce or replace other money allocated by the university
for environmental projects. 

(e) Requires the university to retain any fee revenue that exceeds the
amount necessary to cover current operating expenses for environmental
services and any interest generated from that revenue.  Authorizes the
university to use the excess revenue and interest generated from the
revenue only for the purposes provided by Subsection (c). 

(f) Requires the university to establish a procedure for a student at the
time of  registration to elect not to pay an environmental service fee
imposed under this section. Requires the procedure to provide fair notice
to each student of the purpose of the fee and the student's opportunity to
elect not to pay the fee. 

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

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