BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2954

By: Coleman

Higher Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, Texas Southern University students must vote to raise and create fees for certain services. Any new fees must be created by the legislature.

C.S.H.B. 2954 raises the cap on the amount of the student center fee that the Texas Southern University board of regents may charge students at the university from $35 to $75 per student for each semester of the regular term and from $17.50 to $37.50 per student for each summer term as the board determines is necessary for the purpose of operating, maintaining, improving, and equipping the student center and acquiring or constructing additions to the center.

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

C.S.H.B. 2954 amends the Education Code to raise the cap on the amount of the student center fee that the Texas Southern University board of regents may charge students at the university from $35 to $75 per student for each semester of the regular term and from $17.50 to $37.50 per student for each summer term as the board determines is necessary for the purpose of operating, maintaining, improving, and equipping the student center and acquiring or constructing additions to the center. The bill 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. The bill makes its provisions applicable beginning with student fees charged for the 2009-2010 academic year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2954 adds a provision not in the original prohibiting the student center fee at Texas Southern University 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.