By: Ogden S.B. No. 2351
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to limiting increases in a student health services fee at
Texas A&M University-College Station, and to authorizing the
financing, construction, maintenance and improvement of health
facilities with a student health services fee at a component
institution of the Texas A&M University System.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.507, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 54.507. GROUP HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES FEES;
STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES FEE; TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
(a) The Board of Regents of The Texas A & M University System may
levy and collect from each student at any institution of higher
education which is a part of The Texas A & M University System a
compulsory group hospital and medical services feestudent health
services fee not to exceed $75 for each regular semester and not to
exceed $2537.50 for each term of each summer session. The
compulsory group hospital and medical services feestudent health
services fee may not be levied unless the levy of the fee has been
approved by a majority vote of those students at the affected
institution participating in a general student election called for
that purpose.
(b) In addition to the fee authorized under Subsection (a)
of this section, the Board of Regents of The Texas A & M University
System may levy and collect from each student registered at Prairie
View A & M University a supplemental group hospital and medical
services fee not to exceed $30 for each regular semester and not to
exceed $12.50 for each term of the summer session. The supplemental
group hospital and medical services fee may not be levied unless the
levy of the fee has been approved by a majority vote of the students
registered at Prairie View A & M University participating in a
general election called for that purpose.
(c) At Texas A&M University-College Station the fee shall
not exceed $125 for each regular semester and is not to exceed
$62.50 for each term of each summer session. The fee may not be
increased to an amount that exceeds 10 percent or more of the total
amount of the fee that is in effect on September 1, 2009, or as last
approved by a student vote under this subsection unless the
increase has been approved by a majority vote of the students
participating in a general election called for that purpose or a
majority vote of the Student Government.
(d) A fee levied under this section at a component
institution of The Texas A & M University System may be used only to
provide hospital or other medical services to students registered
at that component institution and for financing, constructing,
maintaining, and improving new and existing health facilities.
(e) If, in an academic year, the total compulsory fee
charged under this section is more than 10 percent higher than the
compulsory fee charged under this section for the previous academic
year, the increase does not take effect unless the increase is
approved by a majority vote of the students voting in an election
held for that purpose.
(f) If, in an academic year, the total compulsory fee
charged under this section is proposed to be increased by an amount
less than 10 percent over that charged in the previous academic
year, the Board of Regents of The Texas A & M University System may,
in lieu of an election, hold a public meeting on the increase prior
to its taking effect in which students have the opportunity to
comment.
(g) An election under this section must also permit the
students to vote on whether hospital and medical services should be
provided to students at the institution by the institution or by a
private entity. The vote by the students on the responsibility for
provision of hospital and medical services to students at the
institution is not binding on the institution.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on September 1, 2009.