SRC-TAG, EPT S.B. 1230 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1230
By: Wentworth
 Education
4/2/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 1230 allows the Texas State University System to charge
each students at Southwest Texas State University a $1 environmental
service fee if a majority of the student body approve this measure in an
election vote and sets forth provisions regarding the authority to
increase that 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 54 E, 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 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 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. 

(b)  Authorizes the board of regents, not more than once in an academic
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, with a
minimum of 1000 student voters particapting. 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 services such
as recycling, transportation, employment, product purchasing, matching
funds for grants, planning and maintenance, and irrigation. 
 
(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 that
revenue only for the purposes provided by Subsection (c). 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003 fall
semester. 
 
SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.