The governing board may charge a student union fee within stated caps, but higher charges or increases need approval by a majority of students voting in a general election.
Sec. 54.515. STUDENT UNION FEE. (a) The governing board of each institution of higher education may charge each student registered at the institution a student union fee not to exceed $20 for each regular semester and not to exceed $10 for each term of the summer session for the sole purpose of financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving a student union building. The fee may not be imposed, and may not be increased above $10 for each regular semester and $5 for each term of the summer session, unless the imposition or increase is approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general election. The fees authorized by this section are in addition to any other use or service fee authorized by law to be charged and collected by the institution. (b) The fees collected under Subsection (a) of this section shall be deposited in a designated account and shall be placed under the control of and subject to the order of a student advisory committee. The student advisory committee annually shall submit to the governing board of the institution a complete and itemized budget to be accompanied by a full and complete report of all activities conducted during the previous fiscal year and all related expenditures made during that year. The governing board shall make any changes in the budget as it considers necessary before approving the budget and shall charge and collect the fees as provided by this section in amounts sufficient to meet the budgetary needs of the student union building and within the limits authorized by this section. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 901, Sec. 17, eff. Aug. 31, 1987.