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.