BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 2351
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the group hospital and medical services fee for The Texas A&M University System (TAMU system) is $75 for each regular semester and $25 for each term of each summer session. This bill changes the name of the fee to the student health service fee and increases the summer session fee to $37.50. The bill also increases the fee at Texas A&M University-College Station (TAMU-CS) to $125 for each regular semester and $62.50 for each term of each summer session. It allows for a 10 percent or greater increase, but only with approval by a student vote in an election called for that purpose. In addition to providing medical services to students the fee may be used for financing, construction, maintaining, and improving new and existing health facilities.
C.S.S.B. 2351 amends current law relating to limiting increases in a student health services fee at TAMU-CS, and to authorizing the financing, construction, maintenance and improvement of health facilities with a student health services fee at a component institution of the TAMU system.
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 the heading of Section 54.507, Education Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 54.507. New heading: STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES FEES; TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.507, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:
(a) Authorizes the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to charge, rather than levy and collect from, each student enrolled at a component institution, rather than any institution, of The Texas A&M University System a student health services fee, rather than a compulsory group hospital and medical services fee, not to exceed $75 for each regular semester and not to exceed $25 for each summer term, rather than of each summer session. Makes conforming changes.
(a-1) Provides that this subsection applies only to Texas A&M University-College Station. Authorizes the board of regents, notwithstanding Subsection (a), to charge each student enrolled at an institution to which this subsection applies a student health services fee not to exceed $100 for each regular semester or $50 for each summer term. Prohibits the fee from being increased by more than 10 percent of the total amount of the fee that is in effect on September 1, 2009, or as last approved by a student vote under this subsection, if applicable, unless the increase has been approved by a majority vote of the students voting in an election held for that purpose.
(c) Authorizes a fee charged under this section at a component institution of The Texas A&M University System to be used to provide, rather than to be used only to provide, hospital or other medical services to students registered at that component institution and for financing, constructing, maintaining, and improving new and existing student health facilities at that institution.
SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2009 fall semester.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.