SRC-ARR S.B. 149 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 149
By: Harris
Higher Education
6/24/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law limits mandatory student fees at public universities
to $150 per semester. The University of Texas at Arlington student body
voted  in 1998 to separate the intercollegiate athletics fee from the
current $150 cap. S.B. 149 will allow the board of regents of The
University of Texas System to impose a mandatory intercollegiate athletics
fee at The University of Texas at Arlington. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 149 authorizes student intercollegiate athletic fees at
The University of Texas at Arlington. 

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 54.5121,
as follows: 

Sec. 54.5121. INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT
ARLINGTON. Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas
System to impose a mandatory intercollegiate athletics fee at The
University of Texas at Arlington. Prohibits the fee from exceeding $7.50
per semester credit hour for each regular semester, unless increased as
provided by Subsection (b).  Prohibits the fee from being imposed unless
approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a general
student election held for that purpose.  Authorizes an increase in the fee
per semester credit hour only if approved by a majority vote of the
students participating in a general student election held for that purpose.
Authorizes the board of regents to prorate the amount of the fee for a
summer session.  Prohibits the fee imposed under this section from being
considered in determining the maximum student services fees that may be
imposed under Section 54.503. Authorizes the board of regents to impose the
fee without calling an additional election under Subsection (a), if a
mandatory intercollegiate fee in an amount within the limit provided by
Subsection (a) was approved by a majority vote of the students
participating in a general student election at the university not more than
two years before the effective date of this section. Provides that this
subsection expires January 1, 2001.  

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

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