HBA-EDN, CBW H.B. 120 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 120
By: West, George "Buddy"
Higher Education 
7/19/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, at The University of Texas of the Permian
Basin (UTPB), $2.00 per semester hour from the student services fee was
dedicated to intercollegiate athletics.  The student senate at UTPB voted
to hold an election to authorize the board of regents of The University of
Texas System to levy a mandatory intercollegiate athletics fee, not to
exceed $5.00 per semester hour. The UTPB student body voted to approve the
measure.  House Bill 120 authorizes the board of regents of The University
of Texas System to impose the fee. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 120 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of regents
of The University of Texas System (board) to impose a mandatory
intercollegiate athletics fee at The University of Texas of the Permian
Basin if the fee is approved by a majority  vote of students participating
in a general student election held for that purpose.  The bill prohibits
the fee from exceeding $5 per semester credit hour for each regular
semester during the first academic year in which the fee is imposed. The
bill provides that the amount of the fee per semester credit hour may be
increased from one  academic year to the next only if the increase is
approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a general
student election held for that purpose. The bill authorizes the board to
prorate the amount of the fee for a summer session. The bill prohibits the
fee from being considered in determining the maximum student services fees
that may be imposed. The bill authorizes the board to impose a fee without
calling an additional election if the fee was approved by a majority of
students participating in a general student election held on or after
January 1, 2000. The bill provides that the board's authorization to impose
such a fee expires January 1, 2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

May 11, 2001.  The Act applies beginning with the 2001 fall semester.