SRC-ARR S.B. 900 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 900
76R4578 CAG-DBy: Sibley
Higher Education
3/16/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the University of North Texas is authorized to charge a medical
service fee which needs to be raised to provide adequate medical services
to university students. The student association sponsored a student
referendum in April 1998 to determine whether students would support a
recreational sports fee of $50 to construct and equip a recreation facility
to serve the students. The item passed. S.B. 900 authorizes an increase in
student fees at the University of North Texas to support these two
projects.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 900 authorizes an increase in student fees at the
University of North Texas.  

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 Section 54.5081(a), Education Code, to authorize the
board of regents (board), rather than governing board, of the University of
North Texas to charge each student registered at the university a medical
services fee not to exceed $50, rather than $25, for each semester of the
regular term or 12-week summer session and not to exceed $25, rather than
$12.50, for each sixweek or shorter term of the summer session.  

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 54E, Education Code, by adding Section 54.5082,
as follows: 

Sec. 54.5082. RECREATIONAL FACILITY FEE; UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS.
Authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas
(university) to impose a recreational fee in an amount not to exceed $50
per student for each semester of the regular term or the summer session on
each student enrolled in the university for the purpose of constructing,
operating, maintaining, improving, and equipping a recreational facility or
program at the institution. Provides that a fee imposed under this section
is in addition to any other use or service fee authorized to be imposed.
Requires revenue from a fee imposed under this section to be deposited to
the credit of an account known as the "University of North Texas
recreational facility fee account" under control of the student fee
advisory committee established under Section 54.5031. Requires the student
fee advisory committee to submit to the board a complete and itemized
budget for the recreation facility with a complete report of all
recreational facility activities conducted during the past year  and all
expenditures made in connection with those activities. Requires the board
to make changes in the budget that the board determines are necessary.
Authorizes the board, after approving the budget, in accordance with this
section, to impose the recreational facility fees for that year in amounts
sufficient to meet the budgetary needs of the recreational facility.
Authorizes the board to contract for the expenditure for the construction
of a facility, if the budget approved by the board contains an expenditure
for the construction of a facility. Prohibits the board from increasing the
amount of the recreational facility 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 or by a
majority vote of the legislative body of the student government of the
institution. Prohibits a fee imposed under this section from being
considered in determining the maximum student services fees that may be
imposed under Section 54.503(b). 

SECTION 3. Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies
beginning  with fees imposed for the 1999 fall semester.  

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
                      Effective date: upon passage.