BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1439

By: Pacheco

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that Texas A&M University—San Antonio does not currently have an intercollegiate athletics program. H.B. 1439 seeks to provide for the establishment of such a program by imposing a student fee for that purpose, subject to approval in a general student election at the university.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1439 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to impose on each student enrolled at Texas A&M University—San Antonio an intercollegiate athletics fee in an amount capped at $10 per semester credit hour for each regular semester or summer session unless the amount of the fee is increased as provided by the bill. The bill makes imposition of the fee contingent on approval by a majority vote of the students of the university who participate in a general student election held for that purpose. The bill authorizes an increase in the amount of the fee from one academic year to the next, subject to approval in a general student election in the same manner as for imposition of the fee if the amount of the increase exceeds five percent and otherwise subject to approval by a majority vote of the legislative body of the student government of the university.

H.B. 1439 sets the fee for a student enrolled in more than 12 semester credit hours at an amount equal to the amount imposed on a student enrolled in 12 semester credit hours during the same semester or session. The bill authorizes the use of the fee to develop and maintain an intercollegiate athletics program at the university and establishes that the fee is in addition to any other fee authorized by law and may not be considered in determining the amount of student services fees authorized by statute. The bill applies beginning with the 2019 fall semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.