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.