BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4182
86R17421 SOS-F	By: Sherman, Sr. (West)
	Higher Education
	5/14/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Located in the heart of Dallas, the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT-Dallas) is in the early stages of establishing an intercollegiate athletic program that would provide unique opportunities for the students it serves and its surrounding communities so that they may help to create school pride and a lasting tradition.

In order to maintain and continue to grow such a program, UNT-Dallas is seeking legislative authorization for the self-assessment and collection of an athletic fee that would be administered to enrolled students at the university per semester.

In compliance with the Education Code, H.B. 4182 seeks to add Section 54.5192 to allow UNT‑Dallas to implement an athletic fee on students enrolled at its campus at a rate of no more than $10 per semester credit for each regular semester or summer session. These fees will not be imposed unless approved by the majority vote of the student body. Additionally, the fee will not be able to increase without a majority vote of the student body or by the majority vote of the legislative body of the student government in the case that the fee increase does not exceed five percent.

H.B. 4182 amends current law relating to an intercollegiate athletics fee at the University of North Texas at Dallas.

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 54.5192, as follows:

Sec. 54.5192.� INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FEE; UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS AT DALLAS. (a) Authorizes the board of regents of the University of North Texas System (board) to charge each student enrolled at the University of North Texas at Dallas an intercollegiate athletics fee in an initial amount not to exceed $10 per semester credit hour for each regular semester or summer session. Authorizes the amount of the fee to be increased only as provided by Subsection (e).

(b) Requires a student enrolled in more than 12 semester credit hours to pay the fee in an amount equal to the amount charged a student enrolled in 12 semester credit hours during the same semester or session.

(c) Authorizes revenue from the fee charged under this section to be used only to develop and maintain an intercollegiate athletics program at the university.

(d) Prohibits the fee from being charged unless approved by a majority vote of the students enrolled at the university who participate in a general student election held for that purpose.

(e) Authorizes the amount of the fee per semester credit hour to 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.

(f) Provides that a fee charged under this section is in addition to any other fee authorized by law and is prohibited from being considered in determining the maximum amount of student services fees that may be charged each student enrolled at the university under Section 54.503 (Student Services Fees).

SECTION 2. Prohibits a fee from being charged under Section 54.5192, Education Code, as added by this Act, before the 2019 fall semester.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.