Honorable Kel Seliger, Chair, Senate Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB837 by Seliger (Relating to requirements for student elections to authorize or increase certain fees at public institutions of higher education.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Under provisions of the bill, a general student election held at a general academic teaching institution for the purpose of authorizing a student fee or approving an increase in the amount of an existing student fee would not be valid unless: (1) at least 10 percent of the students enrolled at the institution to whom the fee, or the increased amount of the fee, participate in the election; and (2) at least 30 percent of the students participating in the election are students enrolled in lower-division courses at the institution. Based on an analysis of agency responses, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by using existing resources. Several institutions responded that they were not sure if the voter turnout requirements established by the bill could be met. Some institutions offer a guaranteed tuition program and as a result any fee increase proposed in an election only impacts the incoming freshman class who are not currently enrolled.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration