BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2680

By: Schaefer

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that, because the statutory cap on the recreational facility fee at The University of Texas at Tyler overrides another provision allowing students to approve a fee increase by vote, the students are currently limited in their options for investing in facility improvements should they wish to do so. H.B. 2680 seeks to address this issue by allowing students to vote for an increase that exceeds the cap. 

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. 2680 amends the Education Code to specify that a recreational facility fee at The University of Texas at Tyler may be increased beyond the statutory caps if the increase is approved by a general student election held for that purpose and to require the ballot proposition for such an election to clearly state the amount of the proposed fee increase and describe the reason for the proposed fee increase. The bill applies beginning with fees imposed for the 2019 fall semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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