By:  Wentworth                                                    S.B. No. 1230


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authorizing an environmental service fee at Southwest 
Texas State University.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 54.5111 to read as follows:
	Sec. 54.5111.  ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE FEE; SOUTHWEST TEXAS 
STATE UNIVERSITY.  (a)  The board of regents of the Texas State 
University System may 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.  The fee may not be 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)  Not more than once in an academic year, the board of 
regents may increase the amount of the fee authorized by this 
section to cover increased operating costs of environmental 
services funded from revenue from the fee.  The board may not 
increase the amount of the fee unless the increase is approved by a 
majority vote of the students, where a minimum of 1000 student 
voters participate, 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.  The total amount of the increased fee 
may not exceed:
		(1)  $6 per student for each regular semester or for 
each term of the summer session not covered by Subdivision (2); or
		(2)  $3 per student for each six-week or shorter term of 
the summer session.
	(c)  A fee imposed under this section may 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)  The university may not use revenue from the fee imposed 
under this section to reduce or replace other money allocated by the 
university for environmental projects.
	(e)  The university shall retain any fee revenue that exceeds 
the amount necessary to cover current operating expenses for 
environmental services and any interest generated from that 
revenue.  The university may use the excess revenue and interest 
generated from that revenue only for the purposes provided by 
Subsection (c).
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2003 fall 
semester.          
	SECTION 3.  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.