H.B. No. 1817




AN ACT
relating to student fees at institutions in the Texas State University System. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 54.5089, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (a) The board of regents of the Texas State University System may charge each student registered at a component institution of the Texas State University System a medical services fee not to exceed $100 [$55] for each semester of the regular term or [12-week] summer session of 12 weeks or longer and not to exceed $50 [$25] for each [six-week or shorter term of the] summer session of less than 12 weeks. (e) Not more than once in an academic year, the board may increase the fee authorized by this section. Any increase in the fee of more than 10 percent must be approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general student election called for that purpose. SECTION 2. The heading to Section 54.511, Education Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 54.511. STUDENT FEES FOR BUS SERVICE; TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM [SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY]. SECTION 3. Section 54.511(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) Not more than once in an academic year, the board may increase the fee authorized in Subsection (a) of this section for the purpose of covering increased operating costs of the bus service. Any increase in the fee must be approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general election called for that purpose. However, the total fee may not exceed $100 [$46] per semester or $50 [$23] per [six-week] summer term of six weeks or less. SECTION 4. Section 54.523(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) To the extent approved by the students under Subsection (b) of this section, the board of regents of the Texas State University System may charge each student enrolled in a university or educational center under its authority a student center fee not to exceed $100 [$70] per semester or $50 [$35] per [six-week] summer term of six weeks or less to be used to construct, operate, maintain, improve, and program a student center at the university or educational center at which the student is enrolled. SECTION 5. Section 54.538(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) If approved by student vote at a system institution, the Board of Regents, Texas State University System, may charge each student enrolled at such institution a recreational sports fee not to exceed $100 [$50] per semester or [10-week] summer session of 10 weeks or longer or $50 [$25] per [five-week] summer session of less than 10 weeks. The fee may be used to purchase equipment for and to construct, operate, and maintain recreational sports facilities and programs at the designated institution. SECTION 6. This Act applies beginning with the 2003 fall semester. SECTION 7. 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. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1817 was passed by the House on April 30, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 122, Nays 6, 3 present, not voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1817 on May 29, 2003, and requested the appointment of a conference committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. 1817 on June 1, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1817 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 28, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. 1817 on June 1, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor