BILL ANALYSIS


Higher Education Committee 
H.B. 815
By: Goolsby
Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND

The University of Texas at Dallas does not have a facility large
enough to accommodate large student gatherings such as graduation
ceremonies and recreational activities.  The practice has been to
use remote facilities for such gatherings.  The student body has
voted to impose a fee to finance, construct and operate a
recreational facility.

PURPOSE

The bill would allow the student body at the University of Texas at
Dallas to be assessed a fee for the purposes of financing,
constructing and operating a recreational facility to accommodate
large student gatherings.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1:  Amends Chapter 54E, Education Code, by adding 54.544,
as follows:

     Sec. 54.544  RECREATIONAL FACILITY FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF
TEXAS AT DALLAS.  (a)  This section allows the University of Texas
at Dallas board of regents to charge a student a recreational
facility fee.
  
(b)  The amount of the fee would be $40 or less for each student
for a regular semester or a twelve-week summer session; and $26.67
or less for an eight-week summer session. 

(b-1)  This section deals with students enrolled before the fall
semester of 1998.  The recreation fee for these students will not
exceed $25 for a regular semester or a twelve-week summer session;
and $16.67 for an eight-week summer session.  

(b-2)  Subsection (b-1) and this subsection will expire on January
1, 1999.  

(c)  This section prohibits the raising of this fee without a
majority vote of students participating in a student election to
make such a determination.

(d)  Under this section, the regents must deposit the collection of
this fee in an account dedicated to the recreational fee account.

(e)  This section permits the regents to use this fee to pay an
obligation issued by the revenue financing system of the University
of Texas System.

(f)  Requires that the fee in this section not be used in
determining the maximum amount of student services fees charged
under Section 54.503(b).

SECTION 2:  Effective date: fall semester of 1995.

SECTION 3:  Emergency Clause


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

Public notice was posted in accordance with House Rules.  H.B. 815
was considered in a public hearing on February 21, 1995.  Mr.
Franklyn G. Jenifer and Mr. James H. Sanders, Jr. testified in
support of the bill.  No one testified against the bill.  The chair
recognized Representative Kamel who moved that H.B. 815 be reported
favorably back to the full House with the recommendation that it do
pass, be printed and placed on the General State Calendar.  The
motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 4 absent.