SRC-ARR H.B. 1488 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1488
76R5942 CAG-FBy: Oliveira (Lucio)
Education
4/19/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Current student enrollment at The University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB)
is 8,812 and is projected to increase in the next 10 years. There is a
current lack of on-campus facilities in which students may conduct
activities between classes. On February 18, 1998, students at UTB voted in
favor of a per-semester fee increase for the construction of a new student
union facility. H.B. 1488 would authorize a student union building fee at
UTB and prohibits the board of regents of UTB from increasing the fee more
than 10 percent in any academic year. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1488 authorizes a student union building fee at The
University of Texas at Brownsville. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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 Section 54.546, as
follows: 

Sec. 54.546. STUDENT UNION FEES; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT BROWNSVILLE.
Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System (board)
to impose on each student enrolled at The University of Texas at
Brownsville (UTB) a student union fee of not less than $34.35 or more than
$70 for each semester or long summer session for the sole purpose of
financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, renovating, and improving
a student union building owned by Texas Southmost College (TSC) and used by
the partnership of UTB and TSC under Section 78.02. Authorizes the fee to
be imposed in addition to any other fee. Requires revenue from the fee
imposed under this section to be deposited to an account known as the UTB
student union account. Requires money in the account to be used in
accordance with terms of the partnership agreements entered into between
UTB and TSC under Section 78.02. Authorizes the board to pledge revenue
from the fee imposed under this section for the payment of obligations
issued for an authorized purpose under the purpose under the revenue
financing system of The University of Texas System. Prohibits the board
from increasing the amount of the fee by more than 10 percent in any
academic year unless the amount of the increase is approved by a majority
of the students voting in an election held for that purpose and by a
majority of the members of the legislative body of the student government
of the institution. Requires the fee imposed under this section to be in
the same amount as the student union fee charged a student at TSC by the
board of trustees of Southmost Union Junior College District. Authorizes a
student attending either or both institutions to be charged a student union
fee by only one of the institutions. 

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999 fall
semester. 

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