Bill Text: TX SB596 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the imposition of the student centers fee at Texas Woman's University.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)

Status: (Passed) 2015-05-28 - Effective immediately [SB596 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB596-Enrolled.html

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S.B. No. 596

AN ACT
relating to the imposition of the student centers fee at Texas
Woman's University.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.525, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read
as follows:
(a) The board of regents of Texas Woman's University may
levy a regular, fixed student fee of not less than $25 or more than
$75 [$40] per student for each semester of the long session and of
not less than $12.50 or more than $35 [$20] per student for each
term of the summer session, as the board determines is just and
necessary for the purpose of financing, improving, operating,
maintaining, and equipping student centers and acquiring or
constructing additions to student centers.
(c) Revenue from a fee imposed under this section shall be
deposited to the credit of an account known as the "Texas Woman's
University Student Center Fee Account" under the control of the
university's student fee advisory committee. Annually, the
committee shall submit to the president of the university its
recommendation for any change to the amount of the fee and a
complete and itemized budget for the student center together with a
complete report of all student center activities conducted during
the past year and all expenditures made in connection with those
activities. The president shall submit the budget to the board of
regents as part of the university's institutional budget. The
board of regents may make changes in the budget that the board
determines are necessary [The board shall keep fees collected under
this section in an account apart from the educational and general
funds of the university. The board shall deposit the fees in a
depository bank designated by the board and shall secure the
deposits as required by law].
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the board may increase
the amount of the fee for a semester or summer session to an amount
that does not exceed $150 if the increase is approved by a majority
vote of those students participating in a general election called
for that purpose. The increased amount under this subsection may
not be charged after the fifth academic year in which the increased
amount is first charged unless, before the end of that academic
year, the institution has issued bonds payable from the fee, in
which event the increased amount may not be charged after the
academic year in which all such bonds, including refunding bonds
for those bonds, have been fully paid.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to fees imposed for a semester or term that begins on or after the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 596 passed the Senate on
April 9, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 14, 2015, by the
following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 596 passed the House, with
amendment, on April 30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 125,
Nays 14, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor