By: Wentworth, Williams, Uresti S.B. No. 161
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to intercollegiate athletics fees at institutions within
the Texas State University System.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 54.5381 to read as follows:
       Sec. 54.5381.  INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FEE: TEXAS STATE
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.  (a)  The board of regents of the Texas State
University System may impose an intercollegiate athletics fee on
each student enrolled at a component institution of the Texas State
University System in an amount not to exceed:
             (1)  $8.75 per semester credit hour for each regular
semester; and
             (2)  $4.50 per semester credit hour for each summer
session.
       (b)  The fee may not be imposed unless approved by a majority
vote of the students of the applicable component institution who
participate in a general student election held for that purpose.
       (c)  A fee imposed under this section may be used to develop
and maintain an intercollegiate athletics program at the component
institution.
       (d)  The amount of the fee may not be increased to an amount
that exceeds by 10 percent or more the total amount of the fee as
last approved by a student vote under Subsection (b) or this
subsection unless the increase has been approved by a majority vote
of the students enrolled at the component institution who
participate in a general student election called for that purpose.
       (e)  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.
       (f)  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 component institution who
participated in a general student election held on or after January
1, 2005, 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, 2008.
       SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2007 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, 2007.