HBA-JEK, BSM S.B. 1498 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1498
By: Harris
Higher Education
8/8/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Department of Recreational Sports at The University of Texas at
Arlington (UTA) serves as the primary campus provider of recreational and
leisure programs for students.  Prior to the 77th Legislature, UTA
utilized a portion of the current student services fee  to support the
recreational sports program at UTA instead of charging a recreational
facility fee.  The upgrading of recreational facilities and programs on
campus is a key element in UTA's mission of providing a comprehensive set
of recreational, leisure, and cultural opportunities for the university
community.  Senate Bill 1498 authorizes the board of regents of The
University of Texas System to impose a recreational facility fee on all
students 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. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 1498 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of
regents of The University of Texas System (board) to charge a recreational
facility fee on each student enrolled at The University of Texas at
Arlington to finance, construct, renovate, improve, equip, or maintain
recreational facilities or operate recreational programs.  The fee may only
be imposed if approved by a majority vote of students participating in a
general election held at the university for that purpose. The bill sets
forth the fee amounts and limits. 

S.B. 1498 prohibits the board from increasing the fee by more than 10
percent in any academic year unless the amount of the increase is approved
by the university's students in a general election held at the university
for that purpose. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

May 18, 2001.