HBA-AMW, LJP H.B. 683 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 683
By: Green
Higher Education
2/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, Texas institutions of higher education may charge a
student enrolled in the institution fees that fund student organizations,
regardless of whether or not the student agrees or affiliates with any of
the organizations.  Some students at these institutions have expressed
concern that the fees support organizations that engage in political or
ideological advocacy that conflicts with their personal beliefs regarding
certain issues.  House Bill 683 prohibits institutions of higher education
from charging an enrolled student a fee or any portion of a fee that is
used to support an organization that engages in political or ideological
advocacy unless the student affirmatively approves the use of the fee for
that purpose. 

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 683 amends the Education Code to prohibit the governing board of
an institution of higher education from charging an enrolled student a fee
or any portion of a fee that is used to support an organization that
engages in political or ideological advocacy unless the student
affirmatively approves the use of the fee for that purpose. The bill
requires each institution of higher education to establish a procedure that
provides fair notice to all students of the purpose for which the fee or
portion of the fee will be used and through which a student may approve or
disapprove the use of this fee. The bill provides that an institution must
reduce by a proportionate amount the fee charged to a student who does not
approve the use of a fee if only a portion of a fee is used. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2002.