SRC-JEC C.S.H.B. 1649 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1649 By: Mercer (Van de Putte) Subcommittee on Higher Education 5/6/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE C.S.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 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 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.