Bill Text: CT HB06604 | 2013 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Student Fees.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-15 - File Number 510 [HB06604 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2013-HB06604-Introduced.html
General Assembly |
Raised Bill No. 6604 | ||
January Session, 2013 |
LCO No. 4237 | ||
*04237_______HED* | |||
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT |
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Introduced by: |
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(HED) |
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AN ACT CONCERNING STUDENT FEES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) (a) A public institution of higher education's nonpartisan student organization that intends to lobby, as defined in section 1-91 of the general statutes, or engages a lobbyist, as defined in section 1-91 of the general statutes, shall control the funds generated from such organization's collection of voluntary student fees, except such funds shall be under the supervision of the administration of such institution unless such organization meets the requirements in subsection (b) of this section, which shall result in such organization acquiring total control over the management and administration of such funds.
(b) (1) Where, by petition, five per cent of the students enrolled at such institution and paying activity fees seek to enable a nonpartisan student organization to acquire total control and administration of the funds generated from the collection of voluntary fees at such institution, a referendum shall be held on the question. Such referendum shall be conducted by secret ballot and notice of such referendum shall be given to all enrolled students paying activity fees at such institution not less than fourteen days prior to such referendum. Such organization shall become responsible for the control and administration of such funds if the majority of votes cast in the referendum approve the organization's acquisition of total control and administration, provided such majority consists of approving votes by not less than twenty per cent of all enrolled students paying activity fees plus one additional approving vote.
(2) Any such nonpartisan student organization that takes control of voluntary fees pursuant to a referendum described in this section, shall establish a board of directors whose duty it shall be to hold hearings on budget requests and expenditures of such funds and to recommend the allocation of such funds. Such organization shall have as one of its officers a duly elected treasurer who shall be accountable for such funds and be bonded in an amount determined by the State Insurance and Risk Management Board.
(c) A referendum on whether to continue student control of such funds shall be held upon a petition by five per cent of the students enrolled at such institution and paying activity fees. Such referendum shall be held in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Where a majority of those voting in such referendum disapprove of the continuation of the nonpartisan student organization's control over such funds, supervision of such funds shall be vested in the administration of the institution in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section, a referendum on whether to continue the nonpartisan student organization's control of such funds shall be held, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, not less than every four years. Such referendum shall require approval by a majority of votes cast in the referendum, provided such majority consist of approving votes by not less than twenty per cent of all enrolled students paying activity fees plus one additional approving vote.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2013) Any nonpartisan student organization that intends to lobby or engage a lobbyist and that is in control of funds in accordance with section 1 of this act shall file, or cause to be filed, a balance sheet and statement of operations with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management at such times as said secretary orders. The organization shall retain a copy of such statements for auditing purposes.
Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 4-54 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) Where the duly constituted student government at any public institution of higher education or where, by petition, five per cent of the students enrolled at such institution and paying activity fees [seeks] seek to establish total control and administration of the student trustee account at such institution, a referendum shall be held on the question. Such referendum shall be conducted by secret ballot and notice of such referendum shall be given to the students at such institution at least fourteen days prior to such referendum. [Upon approval by a majority of at least forty per cent of all students enrolled in the institution and paying activity fees, the] The duly constituted student government of such institution shall become responsible for the control and administration of such account if the majority of votes cast in the referendum approve the question, provided such majority consists of approving votes by not less than twenty per cent of all enrolled students paying activity fees plus one additional approving vote. Pursuant to this subsection any student government controlling student trustee accounts shall establish a finance committee whose duty it shall be to hold hearings on budget requests and expenditures of such accounts and to recommend the allocation of such accounts to the student government. Such student government shall have as one of its officers a duly elected treasurer who shall be accountable for such accounts and be bonded in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
Sec. 4. Subsection (d) of section 4-54 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(d) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section, a referendum on whether to continue student control of such account shall be held at least every four years in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Such referendum shall require [approval by a majority of at least forty per cent of all students enrolled in the institution and paying activity fees] the approval of a majority of votes cast in the referendum, provided such majority consists of approving votes by not less than twenty per cent of all enrolled students paying activity fees plus one additional approving vote.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
July 1, 2013 |
New section |
Sec. 2 |
July 1, 2013 |
New section |
Sec. 3 |
from passage |
4-54(b) |
Sec. 4 |
from passage |
4-54(d) |
Statement of Purpose:
To permit funds generated from voluntary student fees collected by a nonpartisan student organization that intends to lobby or engage a lobbyist to be controlled by such nonpartisan student organization at the will of the students and make technical changes to the sections of the general statutes governing the management of trustee accounts.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]