SRC-TAG H.B. 1650 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1650
78R7149 KEL-DBy: Mercer (Van De Putte)
Subcommittee on Higher Education
4/22/2003
Engrossed

          
DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

On February 7, 2003, students at The University of Texas at San Antonio
voted to approve an increase in fees to support the enhanced program at
the university's Recreation and Wellness Center and to expand the
University Center.  As proposed, H.B. 1650 amends the Education Code to
authorize The University of Texas System Board of Regents to increase the
current student union and recreational facility fees.  

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 Section 54.532(a), Education Code, to authorize the
board of regents of The University of Texas System (board) to levy a
student union fee of not less than $20 or more than $150, rather than $75,
for each semester or summer session, assessed in proportion to the number
of credit hours for which a student registers, for the sole purpose of
financing, operating, maintaining, and improving a student union building
for The University of Texas at San Antonio.  

SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.543, Education Code, by amending Subsection
(a) and adding Subsection (g), as follows: 

(a)  Authorizes the board to charge  each student enrolled at The
University of Texas at San Antonio a recreational facility fee not to
exceed  $100, rather than $30, for each semester of the regular term or
summer session to finance, construct, operate, maintain, or improve
student recreational facilities at the university.  

(g)  Prohibits the board from increasing the amount of the recreational
facility 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. 

SECTION 3.  Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies only
to fees imposed for a semester or term that begins on or after the
effective date of this Act. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.