78R8822 T

By:  Rangel                                                       H.B. No. 2457



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an intercollegiate athletics fee at Texas A&M 
University--Kingsville.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 54.5392 to read as follows:
	Sec. 54.5392.  INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FEE; TEXAS A&M 
UNIVERSITY--KINGSVILLE.  (a)  The board of regents of The Texas A&M 
University System may impose an intercollegiate athletics fee on 
each student enrolled at Texas A&M University--Kingsville.  The fee 
may not be imposed unless approved by a majority vote of the 
students participating in a general student election held at the 
university for that purpose.
	(b)  The amount of the fee may not exceed $12 per semester 
credit hour for each semester or summer session, unless the amount 
is increased as provided by Subsection (c).
	(c)  The amount of the fee per semester credit hour may be 
increased 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 the university.
	(d)  A student enrolled in more than 13 semester credit hours 
shall 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)  A fee imposed under this section may be used to develop 
and maintain an intercollegiate athletics program at the 
university.
	(f)  A fee imposed under this section is in addition to any 
other fee authorized by law and may not be considered in determining 
the maximum amount of student services fees that may be imposed 
under Section 54.503(b).
	(g)  If the imposition of a mandatory intercollegiate 
athletics fee as described by this section was approved by a 
majority vote of the students of the university participating in a 
general student election held on or after January 1, 2002, the board 
of regents may impose the fee as prescribed by the results of the 
election without calling an additional election.  This subsection 
expires January 1, 2005.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2003 fall 
semester.          
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.