SRC-PNG H.B. 2181 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2181
76R8362 JSA-FBy: Coleman (Ellis)
Education
4/27/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Major universities across the country have recently built or plan to build
comprehensive recreation and wellness centers.  Where such centers were
once simply places for intramural sports, they now offer facilities
designed for the entire student body, including food service areas and
multi-purpose meeting rooms.  This bill would authorize the board of
regents of the University of Houston System (board) to impose a
recreational and wellness facility fee on students enrolled at the
university to finance, construct, operate, maintain, and improve student
wellness and recreational facilities, while prohibiting the fee from being
imposed in certain cases.  It also authorizes the board to increase the
fee, but not for more than 10 percent from one academic year to the next
unless approved by a majority vote in a student election, and requires the
board to deposit revenue from the fee in a special account. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2181 authorizes the board of regents of the University of
Houston System (board) to impose a recreational and wellness facility fee
on students enrolled at the university to finance, construct, operate,
maintain, and improve student wellness and recreational facilities, while
prohibiting the fee from being imposed in certain cases.  It also
authorizes the board to increase the fee, but not more than 10 percent from
one academic year to the next unless approved by a majority vote in a
student election, and requires the board to deposit revenue from the fee in
a special account. 

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 54.528, as
follows: 

Sec.  54.528.  RECREATIONAL FACILITY FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
Authorizes the board of regents (board) of the University of Houston System
(university) to charge each student enrolled at the university a
recreational and wellness facility fee to finance, construct, operate,
maintain, or improve student wellness and recreational facilities at the
university.  Prohibits the initial amount of this fee from exceeding $75
for each regular term semester or summer semester.  Authorizes the board to
prorate the fee for a summer session.  Prohibits the fee from being imposed
unless approved by a majority vote of students participating in a general
student election called for that purpose.  Prohibits the fee from being
imposed in a semester or session before the first semester or session in
which a wellness and recreational facility is available for use.
Authorizes the board to increase the fee, but prohibits it from increasing
it by more than 10 percent from one academic year to the next unless
approved by a majority vote in a student election called for that purpose.
Requires the board to deposit the revenue from the fee in an account known
as the recreational and wellness facility account.  Authorizes the board to
pledge revenue from the fee to pay obligations issued under the revenue
financing system of the University of Houston System.  Prohibits a fee
imposed under this section from being considered in determining the maximum
amount of student services fees that may be charged under Section 54.503,
Education Code.  Authorizes the board to permit a person who is not
enrolled at the university to use the facility financed with revenue from a
fee imposed under  this section under certain conditions. 

SECTION 2. Makes this Act applicable beginning with the 1999 fall semester.

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