SRC-JXG S.B. 732 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 732
76R7906 JSA-DBy: Harris
Intergovernmental Relations
3/2/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Arlington Sports Facilities Development Authority, Inc., was
established for The Ballpark, known as Ranger Stadium, which is financed
through a sales tax levy, approved by Arlington voters prior to the 1991
legislature. Seven members of the Arlington city council were appointed to
serve on the Arlington Sports Facilities Development Authority, Inc. The
Arlington city council wants to ensure that a sports entity fee, to be
approved by local University of Texas at Arlington (university) students,
does not interfere with the city's ability to repay bonds in the future, if
parts of the bonds are used for the construction of a smaller sports
facility. The university agrees that the Arlington city council should have
the authority to review the student sports fee. S.B. 732 would authorize
the Arlington city council to give approval to the local university's
student sports fee, pursuant to providing stable bond funding. 
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 732 authorizes the Arlington city council to approve the
University of Texas at Arlington student sports fee, pursuant to providing
stable bond funding. 

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 Article 5190.6, V.T.C.S., by adding Subsection (o), to
provide that this subsection applies only to a city with a population of
more than 250,000 that is located in a county with a population of more
than 1.1 million in which there are at least two municipalities with a
population of more than 250,000. Authorizes the governing board of a
general academic teaching institution (institution), as defined by Section
61.003, Education Code, that is located in a city to which this subsection
applies that has created a corporation under this Act that is governed by
this section to impose a mandatory intercollegiate athletics fee on each
student at the institution with the approval of the governing body of the
city. Authorizes the governing body of the city to approve the imposition
of the fee only if the governing body finds that the operation of any
facility at the institution to be financed directly or indirectly with
revenue from the fee will not have a seriously detrimental effect on the
ability of the corporation to raise revenue to pay the premium of or
interest on outstanding bonds or other obligations issued by the
corporation. Authorizes the governing board of the institution to impose
the fee without additional approval, and prohibits the governing body of
the city from withdrawing or revoking its approval, once approved.
Prohibits the amount of the fee $7.75 per semester credit hour for each
regular semester, unless increased as provided by this subsection.
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 the amount of the fee per semester credit hour to be
increased from one academic year to the next only if approved by a majority
vote of the students participating in a general student election held for
that purpose or, if the amount of the increase does not exceed five
percent, by the legislative body of the student government of the
institution. Authorizes the governing board of the institution to prorate
the amount of the fee for a summer session. Prohibits the fee imposed under
this subsection from being considered in determining the maximum student
services fees that may be imposed under Section 54.503, Education Code.
Authorizes the governing board to impose the fee without calling an
additional student election, if a mandatory intercollegiate athletic fee in
an amount within the limit  provided by this subsection was approved by a
majority vote of the students participating in a general student election
at the institution no more than two years before the effective date of this
subsection. 

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

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