H.B. 1055 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1055 By: Luna Higher Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The student body of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has approved a measure to authorize the board of regents of the Texas A&M University System to levy a mandatory intercollegiate athletics fee not to exceed $8 per semester credit hour. As proposed, H.B. 1055 authorizes the board of regents of Texas A&M University to impose the fee. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code by adding Section 54.5391, as follows: a.) Authorizes the board of regents of the Texas A&M University system to impose a mandatory intercollegiate athletic fee at The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi if approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a general student election held for that purpose. b.) Prohibits the fee from exceeding $8 per semester credit hour for each semester or summer session, unless the amount is increased as provided by Subsection (c). c.) Authorizes the increase of the fee per semester credit hour to be increased from one academic year to the next if approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a general student election held for that purpose, or if the amount of the increase does not exceed five percent, by a majority vote of the legislative body of the student government of the university. d.) Provides that a student enrolled in more than 13 semester credit hours shall pay the same fee amount as a student enrolled for 13 semester credit hours during the same semester or session. e.) Provides that a fee imposed under this section may be used to develop and maintain an intercollegiate athletics program at the university. f.) Provides that a fee imposed under this section is in addition to any other fee authorized by law, and may not be considered in determining the maximum amount of student services fees that may be imposed. g.) Provides that if the fee is approved by a majority vote of the student body participating in a general student election on or after January 1, 2002, the board of regents may impose the fee without calling an additional election. This subsection expires January 1, 2005. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003 fall semester. SECTION 3. Provides that the Act takes immediate effect upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003. EFFECTIVE DATE This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.