HBA-KMH H.B. 3292 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3292
By: Greenberg
Higher Education
3/31/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Rising medical costs and deteriorating of student services and health
center buildings on varying campuses within the University of Texas System
have led to requests from students and administratiors that fees charged to
support these services be raised to pay for continued service and the
operation and maintenance of the buildings. 

H.B. 3292 provides for the following four changes to the fee structure of
different institutions under the University of Texas System: 

(1) an authorization to the board of regents of the University of Texas
System to charge a medical services fee not to exceed $70 per semester of
the regular term; with restrictions on subsequent fee increases; 
(2) an authorization to a governing board of an institution of higher
education to prorate any fee under Chapter 54 (Tuition and Fees), Education
Code, according to a length of a term; 
(3) a requirement that the board of regents of the Austin campus prorate
the medical services fee as is appropriate; and 
(4) an authorization for the health center and student services building
fees charged at the Austin campus to be used also for the operation and
maintenance of those buildings. 

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 Chapter 54, Education Code, by adding Section 54.011, as
follows: 

Sec.  54.011.  AUTHORITY TO PRORATE FEES.  Provides that a governing board
of an institution of higher education will prorate any fee that it is
authorized by this chapter to charge a student based on the length of the
semester of term for which the student is enrolled. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 54.50891, Education Code, as follows:

(a) Raises the amount of the medical services fee (fee) of The University
of Texas System may not exceed to $70 per semester of the regular term, fom
$55 per semester of the regular term or 12-week summer session and $25 per
six week or shorter term of the summer session. 

(b) Provides that the fee committee at the University of Texas at Austin, a
majority of which must be students, must approve the fee increase before
increasing the fee on that campus. 

(e) Provides that any fee increase which exceeds 10 percent in an academic
year is ineffective unless approved by a campus referendum or by a majority
vote of the student government. 

(f) Requires the board of regents to prorate the fee allowed under this
section based on the  length of semester or term for which the student is
enrolled. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 54.536(a), Education Code, to include the
operation and maintenance of the student health center building in the
prescribed uses of the fee. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 54.537(a), Education Code, to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 5.  Applies this Act beginning with fees due for the 1999 fall
semester. 

SECTION 6.   Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.