SRC-TAG S.B. 334 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 334
78R2949 JRJ-FBy: Staples
Subcommittee on Higher Education
3/20/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 
 
Currently, Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) lacks sufficient funds
to upgrade its student center. SFA has not significantly updated its
student union since the 1979-1980 school year, and  students have
expressed a desire to upgrade the facility.  As proposed, S.B. 334 allows
Stephen F. Austin State University to increase its student center fee in
order to facilitate the renovation of its  student center, contingent on
approval by a vote of  the student body. 

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 54.520, Education Code, by amending Subsections
(a) and (b) and adding Subsection (d), as follows: 

(a)  Authorizes the board of regents of Stephen F. Austin State
University, to the extent approved by the students under Subsection (b) of
this section, to charge each student enrolled in one or more courses
conducted by the university, rather than on the main campus of the
university, a fixed fee, not exceeding $100, rather than $15, per student
for each long semester session and not exceeding $50, rather than $7.50,
per student for all or part of each six-week term of the summer session,
for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, operating,
maintaining, improving, equipping, and financing a university center or
additions to the center.  Deletes text authorizing a change in the fee
amount at any time within the specified limits.  Makes a nonsubstantive
change. 

(b)   Requires the decision to levy a fee under this section and the
amount of the initial fee to be approved by a majority of votes from the
students participating in a general election called for that purpose.
Deletes text requiring any increase in the fee to be approved by the
students in a vote.  Makes a nonsubstantive change. 

(d)  Authorizes the board of regents to increase the fee charged under
this section at any time within the applicable maximum amount provided by
Subsection (a), in order to ensure sufficient money to support the
university center, except that  the fee may not increase by more than 10
percent from one academic year to the next unless the increase has been
approved by a majority of the students participating in a general election
called for that purpose.  
  
SECTION 2.  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. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.