By: Ogden S.B. No. 2351

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to limiting increases in a student health services fee at Texas A&M University-College Station, and to authorizing the financing, construction, maintenance and improvement of health facilities with a student health services fee at a component institution of the Texas A&M University System.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 54.507, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 54.507. GROUP HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES FEES; STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES FEE; TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) The Board of Regents of The Texas A & M University System may levy and collect from each student at any institution of higher education which is a part of The Texas A & M University System a compulsory group hospital and medical services feestudent health services fee not to exceed $75 for each regular semester and not to exceed $2537.50 for each term of each summer session. The compulsory group hospital and medical services feestudent health services fee may not be levied unless the levy of the fee has been approved by a majority vote of those students at the affected institution participating in a general student election called for that purpose.

(b) In addition to the fee authorized under Subsection (a) of this section, the Board of Regents of The Texas A & M University System may levy and collect from each student registered at Prairie View A & M University a supplemental group hospital and medical services fee not to exceed $30 for each regular semester and not to exceed $12.50 for each term of the summer session. The supplemental group hospital and medical services fee may not be levied unless the levy of the fee has been approved by a majority vote of the students registered at Prairie View A & M University participating in a general election called for that purpose.

(c) At Texas A&M University-College Station the fee shall not exceed $125 for each regular semester and is not to exceed $62.50 for each term of each summer session. The fee may not be increased to an amount that exceeds 10 percent or more 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 unless the increase has been approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a general election called for that purpose or a majority vote of the Student Government.

(d) A fee levied under this section at a component institution of The Texas A & M University System may 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 health facilities.

(e) If, in an academic year, the total compulsory fee charged under this section is more than 10 percent higher than the compulsory fee charged under this section for the previous academic year, the increase does not take effect unless the increase is approved by a majority vote of the students voting in an election held for that purpose.

(f) If, in an academic year, the total compulsory fee charged under this section is proposed to be increased by an amount less than 10 percent over that charged in the previous academic year, the Board of Regents of The Texas A & M University System may, in lieu of an election, hold a public meeting on the increase prior to its taking effect in which students have the opportunity to comment.

(g) An election under this section must also permit the students to vote on whether hospital and medical services should be provided to students at the institution by the institution or by a private entity. The vote by the students on the responsibility for provision of hospital and medical services to students at the institution is not binding on the institution.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on September 1, 2009.