By Williams, Lewis of Tarrant, Thompson, Coleman      H.B. No. 3261
         77R7219 JSA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the general property deposit paid by a student of a
 1-3     public institution of higher education.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 54.502(a), Education Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  An institution of higher education may [shall] collect a
 1-8     reasonable deposit in an amount not to exceed $100 [$10] from each
 1-9     student to insure the institution against losses, damages, and
1-10     breakage in libraries and laboratories.  The deposit shall be
1-11     returned on the withdrawal or graduation of a student, less an
1-12     amount necessary to cover any loss, damage, or breakage caused by
1-13     the student.
1-14           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-15     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-16     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-17     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-18     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.