|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the general property deposit paid by a student to a |
|
public institution of higher education. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 54.502(a), Education Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) An institution of higher education may collect a |
|
reasonable deposit in an amount not to exceed $100 from each student |
|
to insure the institution against any losses, damages, and breakage |
|
for which the student is responsible and to cover any other amounts |
|
owed by the student to the institution [in libraries and
|
|
laboratories]. The institution shall return to the student the |
|
deposit, less any such amounts owed to the institution by the |
|
student. The deposit must be returned within a reasonable period |
|
after the date of the student's withdrawal or graduation from the |
|
institution, not to exceed 180 days, that provides the institution |
|
with sufficient time to identify all amounts owed and to determine |
|
that the student does not intend to enroll at the institution in the |
|
semester or summer session immediately following the student's |
|
withdrawal or graduation or, if the student withdraws or graduates |
|
in the spring semester, in the next fall semester [The deposit
|
|
shall be returned on the withdrawal or graduation of a student, less
|
|
an amount necessary to cover any loss, damage, or breakage caused by
|
|
the student]. |
|
SECTION 2. 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, 2007. |