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.