HBA-BSM S.B. 462 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 462
By: Duncan
Higher Education
4/8/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, students enrolled at Texas Tech University are assessed a
medical services fee of $55 per semester or 12-week summer term and $25 for
a six-week or shorter summer term.  Students are also assessed a retention
fee of $25 per semester or 12-week summer term and $12.50 for a six-week or
shorter summer term.  S.B. 462 authorizes the Texas Tech University System
board of regents to charge each fee to students at each component
institution of the system, and increases the current statutory caps on each
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

Senate Bill 462 amends the Education Code to raise the maximum medical
services and student recreation fees the board of regents of the Texas Tech
University System (board) are authorized to charge each registered student
at a component institution of the system.  Each fee may not exceed $100 for
each semester of the regular term or 12-week summer session rather than $55
for medical services and $25 for recreation.  For each six-week or shorter
term of the summer session fees may not exceed $50 rather than $25 for
medical services and $12 for recreation.  The board is prohibited from
increasing the amount of either fee by more than 10 percent from one
academic year to the next unless the increase is approved by a majority of
students of the institution voting in a general student election held for
that purpose.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 
The Act applies beginning with the fall semester 2001.