SRC-TAG H.B. 1055 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 1055
By: Luna (Hinojosa)
Subcommittee on Higher Education
4/8/2003
Engrossed

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi levies an $18.50 student
services fee per credit hour per semester or summer session.  The student
body, in a referendum, approved imposing an athletic fee of not more than
$8 per credit hour per semester or summer session dedicated to
intercollegiate athletics.  The existing student services fee will drop to
$10.50, keeping the total fee at $18.50 per credit hour per semester or
summer session.  H.B. 1055  authorizes The Texas A&M University System to
impose an intercollegiate athletics fee on each student enrolled at Texas
A&M University-Corpus Christi, not to exceed $8 per semester credit hour
per semester, that may increase up to five percent yearly if approved by
the student body. 

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 54.5391,
as follows: 

Sec. 54.5391.  INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FEE; TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS
CHRISTI.  (a) Authorizes the board of regents of The Texas A&M University
System to impose an intercollegiate athletics fee on each student enrolled
at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi.  Prohibits imposition of the fee
unless approved by a majority vote of students. 

(b) Prohibits the fee from exceeding $8 per semester credit hour per
semester or summer session, unless the amount is increased as provided by
Subsection (c). 

(c) Authorizes a yearly increase in the fee per semester credit hour if
approved by a majority vote of students, or by a majority vote of the
legislative body of the student government if the increase does not exceed
five percent. 

(d) Provides that a student enrolled in more than 13 semester credit hours
will pay the same amount as a student enrolled in 13 semester credit
hours. 

(e) Authorizes the fee to be used to develop and maintain an
intercollegiate athletics program. 

(f) Prohibits the fee from being factored into determining the maximum
amount of student services fees to be imposed under Section 54.503(b). 

(g) Authorizes the board of regents to impose the mandatory fee, if
approved in an election on or after January 1, 2002, without calling an
additional election. Provides that this subsection expires January 1,
2005. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003 fall
semester. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.