HBA-KDB S.B. 627 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 627
By: Staples
Higher Education
4/1/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not provide The University of Texas at Tyler (university)
with a means to fund an intercollegiate athletics program.  An
intercollegiate athletics program may make the university more attractive
to prospective students and may increase student retention at the
university.  Senate Bill 627 enables the university to collect an
intercollegiate athletics fee to operate an intercollegiate athletics
program. 

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 627 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of regents
of The University of Texas System to impose an intercollegiate athletics
fee on each student enrolled at The University of Texas at Tyler with the
approval of the majority of the students participating in a general student
election held at the university for that purpose.  The bill provides that,
unless a greater amount is approved by a majority in a student election,
the amount of the fee may not exceed $7 per semester credit hour for each
semester or summer session.  The bill authorizes the use of the fee to
develop and maintain an intercollegiate athletics program at The University
of Texas at Tyler. 

A student enrolled in more than 15 semester credit hours is required to pay
the fee in an amount equal to the amount imposed on a student enrolled in
15 semester credit hours during that semester or session.  The bill also
requires a student enrolled in less than six semester credit hours to pay
the fee in an amount equal to the amount imposed on a student enrolled in
six semester credit hours during that semester or session. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with the fall
semester 2001.