SRC-MKV S.B. 627 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 627
77R4672 KSD-FBy: Staples
Education
3/1/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The 75th Legislature authorizes the University of Texas at Tyler to add
freshman classes beginning in 1998.  As part of building a full four-year
university, students have requested the start of an intercollegiate
athletic program to support campus life.  UT-Tyler seeks to fund
intercollegiate athletics by charging a student fee, dedicated to the
athletics program, in order to fund the program in a manner that does not
shift funds from academic pursuits.  Legislation is required to enable
UT-Tyler to collect a fee from all students beginning in Fall 2001. 

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 54.5342,
as follows: 

Sec. 54.5342.  INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT
TYLER.  (a) Authorizes the board of regents of the University of Texas
System (board) to impose an intercollegiate athletics fee on each student
enrolled at the University of Texas at Tyler (university).  Prohibits the
fee from being imposed unless approved by a majority vote of the students
participating in a general student election held at the university for that
purpose. 

(b) Prohibits the amount of the fee from exceeding $7 per semester credit
hour for each semester of summer session unless a greater amount is
approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general
student election health at the university for that purpose.  Prohibits the
fee from exceeding the amount approved at the election. 

(c) Requires a student enrolled in more than 15 semester credit hours to
pay the fee in an amount equal to the amount imposed on a student enrolled
in 15 semester credit hours during that semester or session.  Requires a
student enrolled in less than six semester credit hours to pay the fee in
an amount equal to the amount imposed on a student enrolled in six semester
credit hours during that semester or session, notwithstanding the
limitation on the amount of the fee per semester credit hour under
Subsection (b). 

(d) Authorizes a fee imposed under this section to be used to develop and
maintain an intercollegiate athletics program at the university. 

(e) Prohibits a fee imposed under this section from being considered in
determining the maximum amount of student services fees that may be imposed
under Section 54.503(b). 

(f) Authorizes the board to impose the fee as prescribed by the results of
the election  without calling an additional election,  if the imposition of
a mandatory intercollegiate athletics fee as described by this section was
approved by a majority vote of the students of the university participating
in a general student election held on or after January 1, 2000.  Provides
that this subsection expires January 1, 2003. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2001 fall
semester. 


SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.