§18B-10-2. Higher education resource assessment.

(a) Pursuant to the authority granted by section four, article one-b of this chapter, and section six, article two-b of this chapter, the commission and council jointly shall establish a higher education resource assessment per student for each state institution of higher education under their respective jurisdictions. Community and technical colleges shall transfer all funds collected pursuant to this section to the council. All other institutions shall transfer all funds collected pursuant to this section to the commission. Any reference in this code to higher education resource fee means this higher education resource assessment.

(b) The commission and council jointly shall fix the assessment for the various institutions and classes of students and may periodically change these assessments. The amount of the assessment for each institution shall be prorated for part-time students.

(c) Each institution shall maintain a level of support for libraries and library supplies, including books, periodicals, subscriptions and audiovisual materials, instructional equipment and materials; and for the improvement in quality and scope of student services comparable to that level supported by the higher education resource fee previously authorized by this section.

(d) The assessment shall be expended or allocated by the commission or council to meet its general operating expenses or to fund statewide programs. To the maximum extent practicable, the commission and council shall offset the impact, if any, on financially needy students of any potential assessment increase under this section by allocating an appropriate amount of the revenue to the state scholarship program to be expended in accordance with the provisions of article five, chapter eighteen-c of this code.