SRC-ARR C.S.H.B. 1488 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1488 76R12766 CAG-DBy: Oliveira (Lucio) Education 4/23/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.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, C.S.H.B. 1488 authorizes a student union building fee at The University of Texas at Brownsville and student union fees at public junior colleges. 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 of trustees of the Southmost Union Junior College District (district) to pledge certain revenue from a fee imposed under this section for the payment of obligations issued by the district to finance construction and improvement of a student union building to be owned by TSC and used by the two institutions under the partnership. Prohibits the board from pledging revenue from the fee for the payment of obligations issued for an authorized 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. Amends Section 130.123(c), Education Code, to require the board to be authorized to fix and collect student union fees. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 54.546, Education Code, to authorize the board of trustees of the district to pledge certain revenue from a fee imposed under this section for the payment of obligations issued by the district to finance construction and improvement of a student union building to be owned by TSC and used by the two institutions under the partnership. Prohibits the board from pledging revenue from the fee for the payment of obligations issued for an authorized purpose under the revenue financing system of the University of Texas System. SECTION 2. Amends Section 130.123(c), Education Code, to require the board to be authorized to fix and collect student union fees.