BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2954
81R28116 E By: Coleman (Ellis)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 2954 amends current law relating to authorizing an increase in the student center fee at Texas Southern University.
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 Section 54.522, Education Code, by amending Subsections (a), (c), and (e) and adding Subsection (f), as follows:
(a) Authorizes the board of regents of Texas Southern University (board) to impose on each student enrolled in the university a student fee not to exceed $75 per student for each semester of the regular term and not to exceed $37.50 per student for each summer term, as the board determines necessary for the purpose of operating, maintaining, improving, and equipping the student center and acquiring or constructing additions to the student center. Deletes existing text authorizing the board to levy and collect a student fee not to exceed $35 per student for each semester of the long session and not to exceed $17.50 per student for each term of the summer session, from each student enrolled in Texas Southern University, as may in its discretion be just and necessary for the purpose of operating, maintaining, improving, and equipping the student center and acquiring or constructing additions to the student center. Provides that a fee collected under this section is in addition to any other use or service fee authorized to be imposed, rather than levied.
(c) Makes a conforming change.
(e) Makes a conforming change.
(f) Prohibits the fee from being charged after the fifth academic year in which the fee is first charged unless, before the end of that academic year, the university has issued bonds payable in whole or in part from the fee, in which event the fee may not be charged after the academic year in which all such bonds, including refunding bonds for those bonds, have been fully paid.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.