SRC-JJJ S.B. 1765 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1765
By: Barrientos
Higher Education
3/19/1999
As Filed


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 authorizes
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 proposed, 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.