BILL ANALYSIS
By: Deuell
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Texas A&M-Commerce is planning to build a new student center. A vote of the student body last fall authorized use of the student center complex fee for this construction. All Texas A&M component institutions now fall under Section 54.52 (University Center Student Fee; Stephen F. Austin University), Education Code, which may not allow for the fee to be used for construction of entirely new student centers. S.B. 702 allows the use of the student center complex fee for the construction of a student center at a component institution of The Texas A&M University System.
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
SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 54.521, Education Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 54.521. STUDENT CENTER FACILITY FEES; TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.521(a), (b), (c), and (d), Education Code, as follows: (a) Authorizes the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System (board) to levy a regular student fee on each student enrolled in an educational institution within The Texas A&M University System for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, adding to, replacing, and financing one or more student center facilities for the institution. Deletes existing text relating to producing revenue for acquiring or constructing certain facilities.
(b) Makes a conforming change.
(c) Requires the board to make changes in the budget it considers necessary before approving the budget, and to levy the fees in amounts sufficient to meet the approved budget, rather than the budgetary needs of the center. Makes a conforming change.
(d) Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 3. Effective date:
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, 2005.