SRC-JEC H.B. 1649 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1649
78R7421 KEL-DBy: Mercer (Van de Putte)
Subcommittee on Higher Education
4/21/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 1649 enables The University of Texas at San Antonio to create two new
student fees with the approval of the student body:  a transportation fee,
which would upgrade shuttle and transportation services between campuses
and to shopping areas; and an athletics fee, which would generate funds
for athletic scholarships and the addition of women's soccer and golf
programs. 

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 Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, by adding
Sections 54.5321 and 54.5322, as follows: 

Sec. 54.5321.  TRANSPORTATION FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO.
(a)  Authorizes the board of regents (board) of The University of Texas
System to impose on each student enrolled at The University of Texas at
San Antonio (UTSA) a transportation fee not to exceed $50 for each regular
semester and not to exceed $25 for each term of the summer session, for
the sole purpose of financing transportation services, including capital
expenses, for students attending UTSA.  Provides that the fee is in
addition to any other use fee or service fee authorized by law.  Prohibits
the imposition of the fee unless the fee is approved by a majority vote of
the students participating in a general student election held for that
purpose. 

(b)  Prohibits the board from increasing the amount of the transportation
fee by more than 10 percent in any academic year unless the amount of the
increase is approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a
general student election held for that purpose. 

(c)  Requires that revenue from the fee be deposited to an account known
as the UTSA Transportation Fee account and be expended in accordance with
a budget submitted to and approved by the board.  Requires the board to
make any changes it considers necessary in the budget before approving the
budget, and to impose the fee, within the limits provided by this section,
in an amount sufficient to meet the budget as approved. 

(d)  Prohibits the consideration of a fee imposed under this section in
determining the maximum amount of student services fees that may be
charged under Section 54.503. 

(e)  Requires UTSA to hold in reserve any fee revenue that exceeds the
amount necessary to meet the current expenses of the transportation
services and to apply that revenue only to future expenses of the
transportation services. 

 Sec. 54.5322.  INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT
SAN ANTONIO.  (a)  Authorizes the board to impose a mandatory
intercollegiate athletics fee on each student enrolled at UTSA.  Prohibits
the fee from exceeding $7 per semester credit hour for each regular
semester, not to exceed a total of $84 per semester, unless the amount is
increased by the board, subject to the limitation provided by Subsection
(b).  Prohibits the imposition of the fee unless approved by a majority
vote of the students participating in a general student election held for
that purpose. 

(b)  Prohibits the board from increasing the amount of the fee by more
than 10 percent in any academic year unless the amount of the increase is
approved by a majority vote of the students participating in a general
student election held for that purpose. 

(c)  Authorizes the board to prorate the amount of the fee for a summer
session. 

(d)  Prohibits the consideration of the fee imposed under this section in
determining the maximum amount of student service fees that may be imposed
under Section 54.503. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

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