HBA-LJP H.B. 1024 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1024
By: Brown, Fred
Higher Education
3/13/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the student center complex fee for the funding of the
operation, maintenance, improvement, and equipment of The Texas A&M
University student center complex (complex) cannot exceed $40 per student
for each semester or $20 per student for each summer session or partial
session term.  The current project budget for the complex is funded by
revenue from the use of the complex and the student center complex fee.
Raising the cap on the fee may allow for funding growth as well as possible
renovation and expansion of the complex.  House Bill 1024 authorizes the
board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to raise the maximum
student center complex fee. 

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 1024 amends the Education Code to raise the maximum student
center complex fee  that the board of regents of The Texas A&M University
System (board) is authorized to charge each student enrolled in an
educational institution within the system. The bill raises the maximum
authorized fee from $40 to $100 per student for each semester for the long
session, and from $20 to $50 per student for each term of the summer
session or any fractional part of a session. 

The bill prohibits an increase in the amount of the student center complex
fee by more than 10 percent from one academic year to the next, unless a
majority of the students at the affected institution approve the increase
in a general election called for that purpose. 

The bill requires the president of each institution within The Texas A&M
University System to establish a formal system for soliciting and receiving
student comments on matters involving the construction and operation of a
facility or program that is funded by the student center complex fee. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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