By: Estes S.B. No. 596

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the imposition of the student centers fee at Texas Woman's University.

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

SECTION 1. Section 54.525, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(a) The board of regents of Texas Woman's University may levy a regular, fixed student fee of not less than $25 or more than $75 [$40] per student for each semester of the long session and of not less than $12.50 or more than $35 [$20] per student for each term of the summer session, as the board determines is just and necessary for the purpose of financing, improving, operating, maintaining, and equipping student centers and acquiring or constructing additions to student centers.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the board may increase the amount of the fee for a semester or summer session to an amount that does not exceed $150 if the increase is approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general election called for that purpose. The increased amount under this subsection may not be 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 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. The change in law made by this Act applies only to fees imposed for a semester or term that begins on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.