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.