HBA-KMH H.B. 3571 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3571
By: Haggerty
Higher Education
4/1/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the maximum amount the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) may
charge during regular semesters for student activity fees is $150.
Additionally, students would have to vote for this fee to ever be
increased.  At this time, the University of Texas System (system) may levy
a student union fee of no more than $15.00 for each summer session.  The
university no longer offers two summer sessions of classes. 

H.B. 3571 sets the cap on student activity fees for regular sessions at
$250.00 for UTEP. Additionally, this bill authorizes UTEP to charge $30 for
this type of fee for the one summer session it offers students, as opposed
to the $15 for two summer sessions that are no longer offered. Furthermore,
this bill grants broad authority to the board of regents of the system to
offer, courses leading to customary degrees, as well as to receive gifts
and grants. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 54.503(b), Education Code, to prohibit the total
of all compulsory student services fees at the University of Texas at El
Paso described by this section from exceeding $250 and to allow the fees to
exceed $150. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 54.535(a), Education Code, to include summer
sessions of nine weeks or more in the provisions under this section which
authorize a student union fee not to exceed $30 per student to be levied.
Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 69, Education Code, by adding
Section 69.03, as follows: 

Sec.  69.03.  COURSES AND DEGREES.  Authorizes the board of regents of the
University of Texas System, with approval of the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, to prescribe courses leading to customary degrees as
are offered at leading American educational institutions and to authorize
the awarding of those degrees.  Authorizes the degrees offered by the
university to include baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees and
their equivalents. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 69, Education Code, by adding
Section 69.23, as follows: 

Sec.  69.23.  GIFTS AND GRANTS.  Authorizes the board to accept and
administer gifts and grants from any public or private person or entity for
the use and benefit of the university. 

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.