HBA-MPM H.B. 229 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 229
By: West, George
Higher Education
2/22/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin does not have
centralized student union facilities for its student population.  Students
have proposed that a centralized student union with standard amenities be
built.  A proposal for the fee required to develop the student union passed
on a student referendum ballot by a two-to-one margin.  H.B. 229 allows the
University of Texas System board of regents to impose a student union fee
for the purpose of financing, constructing, and improving a student union
facility.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not 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 54.533, as follows: 

Sec. 54.533.  STUDENT UNION FEES; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS OF THE PERMIAN
BASIN.  (a)  Authorizes the board of regents (board) of the University of
Texas System to impose a student union fee to finance, construct, operate,
maintain, and improve a student union facility for the University of Texas
of the Permian Basin (university). Specifies that the fee may be up to $50
if approved by a student vote and $39 if the vote fails to pass or if no
vote is taken.  Specifies that the fee is in addition to other fees
authorized to be imposed.  Authorizes the board to prorate the amount of
the fee for a summer session. 

(b)  Specifies that the revenue collected from the fee be deposited to the
university student union fee account and be placed under the control of and
subject to the order of the student union advisory committee (committee).
Requires the committee to submit an annual itemized budget to the president
of the university, as well as a complete report of the activities conducted
during the preceding year and related expenditures.  Requires the president
to submit the budget to the board as part of the institutional budget.
Requires the board to make changes in the budget prior to approval, and to
subsequently impose the fee in amounts sufficient to meet the budget. 

(c)  Authorizes the board to pledge fees to pay obligations issued pursuant
to the revenue financing system of the University of Texas System. 

(d)  Provides that a fee may not be imposed in a semester in which the
student union facility is not available for student use. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective beginning with the
fall semester of 1999. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
            Effective date:  upon passage.