SRC-JEC H.B. 2457 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2457
78R8822 TBy: Rangel (Lucio)
Subcommittee on Higher Education
5/14/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

During the 2002 spring semester, a majority of the students of Texas A&M
University--Kingsville voted for an intercollegiate athletics student fee
to assist in the operation, development, and maintenance of the school's
athletic program.  H.B. 2457 enables the board of regents of The Texas A&M
University System to impose the fee. 

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
Section 54.5392, as follows: 

Sec. 54.5392.  INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FEE; TEXAS A&M
UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE.  (a)  Authorizes the board of regents of The Texas
A&M University System to impose an intercollegiate athletics fee on each
student enrolled at Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMU--Kingsville).
Prohibits the imposition of the fee unless approved by a majority vote of
the students participating in a general student election held at
TAMU-Kingsville for that purpose. 

(b)  Prohibits the amount of the fee from exceeding $12 per semester
credit hour for each semester or summer session, unless the amount is
increased as provided by Subsection (c). 

(c)  Authorizes the increase of the amount of the fee per semester credit
hour from one academic year to the next only if approved by a majority
vote of the students participating in a general student election held for
that purpose or, if the amount of the increase does not exceed five
percent, by a majority vote of the legislative body of the student
government of TAMU--Kingsville. 

(d)  Requires a student enrolled in more than 13 semester credit hours to
pay the fee in an amount equal to the amount imposed on a student enrolled
in 13 semester credit hours during the same semester or session. 

(e)  Authorizes the use of a fee imposed under this section to develop and
maintain an intercollegiate athletics program at TAMU--Kingsville. 

(f)  Provides that a fee imposed under this section is in addition to any
other fee authorized by law and prohibits its consideration in determining
the maximum amount of student services fees that may be imposed under
Section 54.503(b). 

 (g)  Authorizes the board of regents, if the imposition of a mandatory
intercollegiate athletics fee as described by this section was approved by
a majority vote of the students of TAMU--Kingsville participating in a
general student election held on or after January 1, 2002, to impose the
fee as prescribed by the results of the election without calling an
additional election.  Provides that this subsection expires January 1,
2005. 

SECTION 2.   Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003 fall
semester. 

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