SRC-MWN S.B. 1827 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1827
By: Armbrister
Education
5/3/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, students enrolled at Texas State University System components
are assessed medical services, student center, and recreational sports
fees. As proposed, S.B. 1827 authorizes the board of regents of the Texas
State University System to increase the current statutory fees. 

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 54.5089, Education Code, by amending Subsection
(a) and adding Subsection (e), as follows: 

(a) Authorizes the board of regents of the Texas State University System
(board) to charge each student registered at a component institution of the
Texas State University System a medical services fee not to exceed $100,
rather than $55, for each semester of the regular term or 10-week, rather
than 12-week, summer session and not to exceed $50, rather than $25, for
each six-week or shorter term of the summer session. 

(e) Prohibits the board from increasing the amount of the medical services
fee charged at a component institution of the Texas State University System
by more than 10 percent from one academic year to the next unless the
increase is approved by a majority vote of those students participating in
a general election called for that purpose. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.523, Education Code, by amending Subsections
(a) and (b) and adding Subsections (f) and (g), as follows: 

(a) Authorizes the board, to the extent approved by the students under
Subsection (b) of this section, to charge each student enrolled at a
component institution under its authority a student center fee not to
exceed $100, rather than $70, per semester or $50, rather than $35, per
sixweek summer term to be used to construct, operate, maintain, improve,
and program a student center at the component institution, rather than
university or education center, at which the student is enrolled. Deletes
reference to university or educational center. 

(b) Deletes text reference to an increase in the fee. Makes a
nonsubstantive change. 

(f) Prohibits the fee authorized by this section from being increased by
more than 10 percent from one academic year to the next unless the increase
has been approved by a majority vote of the students at the affected
institution participating in a general election called for that purpose.
Prohibits the fee from exceeding the maximum amounts provided by Subsection
(a). 

 (g) Requires the president of each institution in the system to establish
a formal system for soliciting and receiving student comment with respect
to matters relating to construction and operation of a facility or program
financed by a fee charged under this section. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 54.538(a), Education Code, to authorize the
board, if approved by student vote, to charge each student enrolled at a
component institution of the Texas State University System a recreational
sports fee not to exceed $100, rather than $50, per semester or 10-week
summer session or $50, rather than $25, per five-week summer session.
Deletes reference regarding a system institution. 

SECTION 4. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2001 fall
semester. 

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.