SRC-CTC, MWN H.B. 461 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 461 77R2580 KSD-DBy: Crownover, Myra (Haywood) Education 4/29/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE In October 2000, a referendum sponsored by the University of North Texas student association passed, indicating that students support a recreational sports fee of $75 to construct and equip a recreational facility to serve the students at the university. H.B. 461 authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas to impose a recreational fee on students to provide recreational facilities for its student population. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 54E, Education Code, by adding Section 54.5091, as follows: Sec. 54.5091. STUDENT RECREATIONAL FACILITY FEE; UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS. (a) Authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas (board), if approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general election held at the university for that purpose, to impose a recreational facility fee on each student enrolled in the university in an amount not to exceed $75 per student for each semester of the regular term or 12-week summer session and not to exceed $37.50 per student for each six-week or shorter term of the summer session. Authorizes the fee to be used only for certain purposes at the university. (b) 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 the control of the student fee advisory committee established under Section 54.5031. (c) Requires the student fee advisory committee annually to submit to the board of regents a complete and itemized budget for the recreational facility with a complete report of all recreational facility activities conducted during the past year and all expenditures made in connection with these activities. Authorizes the board to make changes in the budget that the board determines are necessary. Provides that after approving the budget, the board, in accordance with this section, is authorized to impose the recreational facility fees for that year in amounts sufficient to meet the budgetary needs of the recreational facility. Authorizes the board, if the budget approved by the board contains an expenditure for the construction of a facility, to contract for the construction of the facility. (d) 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 participating in a general election held at the university for that purpose. (e) Provides that a fee imposed under this section is in addition to any other use or service fee authorized to be imposed. (f) Prohibits a fee imposed under this section from being considered in determining the maximum student services fees that is authorized to be imposed under Section 54.503(b). SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2001 fall semester. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.