H.B. 882 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 882
By: Christian
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)


      
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Section 54.520 of the Texas Education Code authorizes the board
of regents of Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) to levy fees to
operate, maintain, improve, equip, finance, and acquire or construct a
university center or additions to the center and limits the fee to $15 per
student for each long session and $7.50 per student for each summer
session.  SFA's student senate voted to hold an election to authorize the
Board of Regents to increase the university center fee within limits
prescribed by state statute.  HB 882 establishes fee limits of $100 per
student for the long session and $50 per student for each summer session. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

HB 882 amends Section 54.520, Education Code, to authorizes the board of
regents of Stephen F. Austin State University to charge each student
enrolled in one or more courses conducted by the university a regular,
fixed student center fee, not to exceed $100, rather than $15 per student
for each semester of the long session and $50, rather than $7.50 per
student for all or part of each six-week term of the summer session.  The
bill provides that in addition to operating, maintaining, improving,
equipping, and financing the student center, the fee may also be used for
the purposes of acquiring, constructing, and renovating the student center
or additions to the center.  The bill provides that the decision to levy a
fee under this section and the amount of the fee must be approved by a
majority vote of those students participating in a general student
election called for that purpose. 

HB 882 authorizes the board of regents to increase the student center fee
at any time within the applicable maximum amount provided by Subsection
(a).  The bill provides that the fee may not be increased by more than 10
percent from one academic year to the next unless the increase has been
approved by a majority vote  of those students participating in a general
student election held for that purpose.  The bill provides that the change
in law made by this Act applies only to fees imposed for a semester or
term that begins on or after the effective date of this Act. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of
all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article
III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary
for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.