BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 696
88R7875 JTZ-F	By: West
	Subcommittee on Higher Education
	4/12/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 696 increases the student union fee that The University of Texas System may levy at The University of Texas at Dallas from $60 per student for each regular semester hour and $40 per student for each term of the summer session to $100 per student for regular semesters and $50 per student for each regular semester. 

The student body of The University of Texas at Dallas conducted a student fee referendum in the fall of 2022, and a measure proposing an increase in the student union fee to $100 per semester was passed, with 3,470 students voting in favor of the increased fee. 

The funds from the increase will create a new student union building at The University of Texas at Dallas. The current student union was constructed in 1979. The last increase in student union fees was in 2001, when the fee increased from $40 to $60 per semester to support expansion and growth of the existing student union. During this period, student enrollment has grown 153 percent, from 12,445 in the fall of 2001 to a projected 31,500 in the fall of 2022. 

The new student union could result in increased student employment opportunities, expanded food and dining options for students, areas for recreation, student government and graduate student assembly headquarters, banquet space, and more. 

As proposed, S.B. 696 amends current law relating to student buildings fees at The University of 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 the heading to Section 54.531, Education Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 54.531. STUDENT UNION BUILDINGS FEES; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 54.531, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2), as follows:

(a) Authorizes the board of regents of The University of Texas System (board) to levy a student union fee, not to exceed $100 per student for each regular semester and not to exceed $50 per student for each term of the summer session, for the sole purpose of financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving student union buildings for The University of Texas at Dallas (UT-Dallas). Deletes existing text authorizing the board to levy a student union fee, not to exceed $60 per student for each regular semester and not to exceed $40 per student for each term of the summer session, for the sole purpose of financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving a student union building for UT-Dallas, provided, however, that the fee is prohibited from being increased above $40 per student for each regular semester and $26.67 per student for each term of the summer session unless the increase is approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general election held for that purpose.

(a-1) Prohibits the amount of the fee levied under this section from being increased to an amount that exceeds by 10 percent or more the amount of the fee levied during the preceding academic year unless the increase is approved by a majority vote of students enrolled at the university participating in a general student election held for that purpose.

(a-2) Provides that the fee authorized to be levied under this section is in addition to any use or service fee authorized to be levied. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 3. Amends the heading to Section 54.5312, Education Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 54.5312. STUDENT SERVICES BUILDINGS FEE; THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 54.5312(a), Education Code, as follows:

(a) Authorizes the board to impose on each student enrolled at UT-Dallas a student services buildings, rather than building, fee for the sole purpose of financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and improving student services buildings, rather than a student services building, at UT-Dallas.

SECTION 5. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply beginning with fees imposed for the 2024 fall semester.

SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2023.

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