SRC-JJJ S.B. 1765 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1765 By: Barrientos Higher Education 6/23/1999 Enrolled DIGEST In March, 1999, the students at the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) approved a referendum for a fee to renovate the Gregory Gymnasium indoor pool and construction of an outdoor complex. A fee charged to each student enrolled in the university will be used for financing, construction, renovating, operating, maintaining, and improving an Aquatics Center at the Gregory Gymnasium Complex. S.B. 1765 will authorize the board of regents of the University of Texas System to charge each student enrolled at UT-Austin, certain fees, prorated based on the length of the semester. PURPOSE As enrolled, S.B. 1765 establishes certain fees charged at certain institutions of higher education. 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 54, Education Code, by adding Section 54.5372, as follows: Sec. 54.5372. AQUATICS CENTER FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. Authorizes the board of regents of the University of Texas System to charge each student enrolled at the UT-Austin a fee not to exceed $0.85 per credit hour per semester. Authorizes the fee to be used for financing, constructing, renovating, operating, maintaining, and improving an Aquatics Center at the Gregory Gymnasium Complex. Requires the board of regents to prorate the fee based on the length of semester or term. Requires UT-Austin to collect the fee imposed only for use for the purposes in this section. Prohibits the fee from being collected until the complex has been substantially completed and is made available for use. Authorizes the board of regents to pledge fees collected for payment of obligations issued for authorized purposes pursuant to the revenue financing system of the University of Texas System. Prohibits fees collected from being counted in determining the maximum student services fee. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with fees due for the fall semester, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.