HBA-JLV H.B. 2575 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2575
By: Goolsby
Higher Education
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, an institution of higher education (institution) is authorized
to charge up to $150 for student services fees per semester.  Institutions
spend student services fees to fund various student activities that are
separate and distinct from the general operations budget of the university.
However, many institutions are now charging students the current cap of
$150 for student services fees, and find that the fees are not able to meet
the service needs of current student populations.  House Bill 2575
increases the maximum limit of aggregate student services fees that an
institution is authorized to charge.  

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2575 amends the Education Code to increase, from $150 to $250,
the limit of the total amount of compulsory student services fees that may
be collected from a student at an institution of higher education, other
than The University of Texas at Austin or a component institution of the
University of Houston System, for any one semester or summer session.  The
bill removes provisions authorizing the governing board of an institution
of higher education to collect up to $250 from a student at The University
of Texas at El Paso, upon approval by a majority vote of those students
participating in a general election called for that purpose. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.