HBA-MPM, NIK S.B. 149 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 149 By: Harris Higher Education 4/22/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law limits mandatory student fees at public universities to $150 per semester. The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) student body voted in 1998 to separate the intercollegiate athletics fee from the current $150 cap. S.B. 149 allows the board of regents of The University of Texas System to impose a mandatory intercollegiate athletics fee at UTA. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, by adding Section 54.5121, as follows: Sec. 54.5121. INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON. (a) Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System (board) to impose a mandatory intercollegiate athletics fee at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Prohibits the amount of the fee from exceeding $7.75 per semester credit hour for each regular semester, unless increased as provided by Subsection (b). Prohibits the fee from being imposed unless approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a general student election held for that purpose. (b) Authorizes the amount of the fee per semester credit hour to be increased from one academic year to the next only if approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a general student election held for that purpose or, if the amount of the increase does not exceed five percent, by the legislative body of the UTA student government. (c) Authorizes the board to prorate the amount of the fee for a summer session. (d) Prohibits the fee imposed under this section from being considered in determining the maximum student services fees that may be imposed under Section 54.503 (Tuition and Charges to be Authorized by Law), Education Code. (e) Authorizes the board to impose the fee without calling an additional election under Subsection (a) if a mandatory intercollegiate fee in an amount within the limit provided by Subsection (a) was approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a general student election at UTA more than two years before the effective date of this section. Provides that this subsection expires January 1, 2001. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the fall semester of 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.