HBA-MPM C.S.H.B. 2302 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2302
By: Green
Higher Education
4/16/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Southwest Texas State Students Association, through resolution, has
requested that bus services be expanded at Southwest Texas State University
in San Marcos.  To facilitate this expansion, the university has requested
an increase in bus service fees.  C.S.H.B. 2302 provides that an increase
in a student fee at the university for the purpose of covering increased
operating costs of the bus service must be approved by a two-thirds vote of
students participating in a general election and prohibits the total fee
from exceeding $46 per semester or $23 per six-week summer term. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 54.511(b), Education Code, to provide that any
increase in a student fee at Southwest Texas State University for the
purpose of covering increased operating costs of the bus service must be
approved by a two-thirds vote, rather than a majority vote, of those
students participating in a general election called for that purpose.
Prohibits the total fee from exceeding $46, rather than $30, per semester,
or $23, rather than $15, per six-week summer term. 

SECTION 2.  Makes the change in law made by this Act applicable beginning
with fees imposed in the 1999 fall semester.  Provides that beginning with
that semester, the fee increase under Section 54.511, Education Code, takes
effect only if the increase is approved by a vote of the students as
required by Section 54.511(b), as amended by this Act. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. differs from the original bill by adding additional procedural
language to SECTION 2 of the substitute to provide that beginning with the
fall semester of 1999, the fee increase under Section 54.511, Education
Code, takes effect only if the increase is approved by a vote of the
students as required by Section 54.511(b), as amended by this Act.  The
substitute also changes the emergency clause in SECTION 3 of the original
from the short to the long emergency clause in the substitute.