BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1339

By: Lyne

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Midwestern State University Clark Student Center was constructed approximately 60 years ago and is now in need of major repairs. According to interested parties, the current student fee structure used to operate and maintain the student center will not support these repairs. H.B. 1339 seeks to address this problem by authorizing an increase in the student fee for the university 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

H.B. 1339 amends the Education Code to authorize the Midwestern State University board of regents to increase the amount of the university center fee for a semester or summer session in excess of the applicable amount if the increase is approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general election called for that purpose. The bill prohibits the increased amount from being charged after the fifth academic year in which the increased amount is first charged unless, before the end of that academic year, the institution has issued bonds payable from the fee, in which event the increased amount is prohibited from being charged after the academic year in which all such bonds, including refunding bonds for those bonds, have been fully paid.

H.B. 1339 makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.