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


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1650
By: Mercer (Van de Putte)
Subcommittee on Higher Education
5/6/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)
          
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.  C.S.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 Sections 54.532(a) and (c), Education Code, as follows:

(a)  Authorizes 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.   

(c)  Prohibits the board from increasing the amount of the student union
fee in any academic year unless the amount of the increase is approved by
a majority of the students voting in an election held for that purpose and
by a majority of the student government of the institution.  Deletes an
amount of more than 10 precent. 

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 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.  (a)  Establishes 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, subject to Subsection (b). 

(b)  Provides that the change in law made by this Act in amending Section
54.532(a), Education Code, applies only to fees imposed under that
subsection beginning with the 2007 fall semester. 

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