By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1467     (Canales)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, to student   fees imposed by the university, and to the elimination of certain   obsolete statutory references in relation to the university.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 25.086(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A child is exempt from the requirements of compulsory   school attendance if the child:                (1)  attends a private or parochial school that   includes in its course a study of good citizenship;                (2)  is eligible to participate in a school district's   special education program under Section 29.003 and cannot be   appropriately served by the resident district;                (3)  has a physical or mental condition of a temporary   and remediable nature that makes the child's attendance infeasible   and holds a certificate from a qualified physician specifying the   temporary condition, indicating the treatment prescribed to remedy   the temporary condition, and covering the anticipated period of the   child's absence from school for the purpose of receiving and   recuperating from that remedial treatment;                (4)  is expelled in accordance with the requirements of   law in a school district that does not participate in a mandatory   juvenile justice alternative education program under Section   37.011;                (5)  is at least 17 years of age and:                      (A)  is attending a course of instruction to   prepare for the high school equivalency examination, and:                            (i)  has the permission of the child's parent   or guardian to attend the course;                            (ii)  is required by court order to attend   the course;                            (iii)  has established a residence separate   and apart from the child's parent, guardian, or other person having   lawful control of the child; or                            (iv)  is homeless; or                      (B)  has received a high school diploma or high   school equivalency certificate;                (6)  is at least 16 years of age and is attending a   course of instruction to prepare for the high school equivalency   examination, if:                      (A)  the child is recommended to take the course   of instruction by a public agency that has supervision or custody of   the child under a court order; or                      (B)  the child is enrolled in a Job Corps training   program under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C.   Section 2801 et seq.);                (7)  is at least 16 years of age and is enrolled in a   high school diploma program under Chapter 18;                (8)  is enrolled in the Texas Academy of Mathematics   and Science under Subchapter G, Chapter 105;                (9)  is enrolled in the Texas Academy of Leadership in   the Humanities;                (10)  is enrolled in the Texas Academy of Mathematics   and Science at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley [at   Brownsville];                (11)  is enrolled in the Texas Academy of International   Studies; or                (12)  is specifically exempted under another law.          SECTION 2.  Section 54.223(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A person enrolled in The University of Texas Rio Grande   Valley or [at Brownsville and] Texas Southmost College is entitled   to pay tuition and fees at the rates provided for Texas residents if   the person:                (1)  is in residence and in training as a participating   athlete in a Community Olympic Development Program or at a United   States Olympic training center located in this state;                (2)  is residing permanently or temporarily in this   state while in training as a participating athlete:                      (A)  in a Community Olympic Development Program   located in this state; or                      (B)  at a United States Olympic training center   located in this state in a program approved by the governing body   for the athlete's Olympic sport; or                (3)  is residing permanently or temporarily in this   state while in training as a participating athlete at a facility in   this state approved by the governing body for the athlete's Olympic   sport, in a program approved by that body.          SECTION 3.  Section 54.542, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 54.542.  STUDENT UNION FACILITIES [BUILDING] FEE; THE   UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY [TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN].  (a)     Except as provided by Subsection (c) [of this section], the board of   regents of The University of Texas System may levy a student union   fee, not to exceed $30 for each student for each regular semester or   $15 for each student for each term of the summer session, for the   sole purpose of financing, constructing, operating, maintaining,   renovating, and improving [a] student union facilities [building]   for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley [Texas-Pan American].          (b)  The board of regents may pledge the fees levied under   this section to pay obligations issued pursuant to the revenue   financing system of The University of Texas System.          (c)  A student union fee levied under this section may not be   levied or increased unless the levy or increase is approved by a   majority vote of those students participating in a general election   held for that purpose.          (d)  Student union fees levied under this section are in   addition to any other fee the board of regents is authorized by law   to charge and may not be considered in determining the maximum   student services fee that may be charged under Section 54.503(b)   [of this code].          (e)  Revenue from the fee collected under Subsection (a)   shall be deposited [The board shall deposit student union fees   levied under this section] to the credit of an account known as The   University of Texas Rio Grande Valley student union fee account   [Texas-Pan American Student Union Fee Account].          (f)  Notwithstanding Section 51.002 [of this code], student   union fees levied under this section are under the control of the   Student Union Advisory Committee. The committee annually shall   submit to the president of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley   [Texas-Pan American] a complete and itemized budget with a complete   report of all activities conducted during the past year and all   expenditures made in connection with those activities. The   president shall submit the budget to the board of regents as part of   the institutional budget. Before approving the budget, the board   of regents may make changes in the budget that the board determines   are necessary. After approving the budget, the board, in   accordance with this section, may levy the student union fees for   that year in amounts sufficient to meet the budgetary needs of the   student union facilities [building].          SECTION 4.  Section 54.5421, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 54.5421.  SPORTS RECREATION AND WELLNESS FACILITY FEE;   THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY [TEXAS--PAN AMERICAN].   (a)  The board of regents of The University of Texas System may   charge each student enrolled at The University of Texas Rio Grande   Valley [Texas--Pan American] a sports recreation and wellness   facility fee to finance, construct, operate, maintain, or improve   sports recreation and wellness programs and facilities at the   university. The amount of the fee may not exceed $79 per student   [$75] for each regular semester and $39.50 per student [of the   regular term or] for each term of the summer session.          (b)  A fee charged under this section is in addition to any   other fee the board is authorized by law to charge [The fee may not   be imposed unless the fee is approved by a majority vote of those   students voting in a general student election called for that   purpose].          (c)  The board may not increase the amount of the fee by more   than 10 percent in any [from one] academic year [to the next] unless   the amount of the increase is approved by:                (1)  a majority vote of those students participating   [voting] in a general student election held at the institution and   called for that purpose; and                (2)  a majority of the members of the legislative body   of the student government of the institution.          (d)  The board shall deposit the revenue from the fee to the   credit of [in] an account known as The University of Texas Rio   Grande Valley [Texas--Pan American] sports recreation and wellness   facility account. Money in the account shall be used to the extent   required in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement   between the board of regents of The University of Texas System and   the board of trustees of the Texas Southmost College District, as   amended from time to time, terminating the partnership agreement   authorized by former Section 78.02.          (e)  The board may:                (1)  pledge revenue from the fee to pay obligations   issued pursuant to the revenue financing system of The University   of Texas System; and                (2)  use revenue from the fee to pay an obligation   issued to finance, construct, operate, maintain, renovate, or   improve a wellness, recreational, and fitness complex owned by   Texas Southmost College and used by the university under the terms   of the settlement agreement between the board of regents of The   University of Texas System and the board of trustees of the Texas   Southmost College District.          (f)  A fee imposed under this section may not be considered   in determining the maximum amount of student services fees that may   be charged under Section 54.503.          (g)  The board may permit a person who is not enrolled at The   University of Texas Rio Grande Valley [Texas--Pan American] to use   a university-owned facility financed with revenue from a fee   imposed under this section if:                (1)  the person's use of the facility will not   materially interfere with student demand or use;                (2)  the person is charged a fee that is not less than   the student fee and that is not less than the direct and indirect   cost to the university of providing for the person's use; and                (3)  the person's use will not materially increase the   potential liability of the university.          (h)  The board of trustees of the Texas Southmost College   District may pledge revenue from a fee imposed under this section,   whether received directly from a student or from The University of   Texas Rio Grande Valley, under the terms of the settlement   agreement between the board of regents of The University of Texas   System and the board of trustees of the Texas Southmost College   District, for the payment of obligations issued by Texas Southmost   College District to finance the construction, operation,   maintenance, renovation, and improvement of a wellness,   recreational, and fitness complex owned by Texas Southmost College   District and used by the university under the settlement agreement.   If the fee imposed under this section is pledged to the payment of   obligations issued by Texas Southmost College District, the board   of regents of The University of Texas System may not pledge revenue   from the fee for the payment of obligations issued for an authorized   purpose under the revenue financing system of The University of   Texas System.          SECTION 5.  Section 54.551, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 54.551.  INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FEE;  THE   UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY [AT BROWNSVILLE]. (a) The   board of regents of The University of Texas System may impose on   each student enrolled at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley   [at Brownsville] an intercollegiate athletics fee in an amount not   to exceed $15 [$7] per semester credit hour for each regular   semester or summer session, unless the amount is increased as   provided by Subsection (d).          (b)  The board shall deposit revenue from the fee to the   credit of an account known as The University of Texas Rio Grande   Valley [at Brownsville] intercollegiate athletics fee   account.  Revenue from the fee charged under this section may be   used only for financing, constructing, operating, maintaining,   renovating, or improving an athletic facility or for operating an   intercollegiate athletics program at the university [Money in the   account shall be used in accordance with the terms of the   partnership agreements entered into between The University of Texas   at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College under Section 78.02].          (c)  If compulsory student services fees are charged to   students enrolled at the university under Section 54.503, the total   amount of those fees charged to a student shall be reduced by $15   per semester credit hour beginning with the first semester in which   an intercollegiate athletics fee is charged under this section [The   fee may not be imposed unless approved by a majority vote of the   students of the university who participate in a general student   election held for that purpose].          (d)  The fee authorized by this section may not be increased   by more than 10 percent from one academic year to the next [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 (c) or this subsection] unless the   increase has been approved by a majority vote of those [the]   students participating [enrolled at the university who   participate] in a general student election held at the institution   and called for that purpose.          (e)  A fee imposed under this section is in addition to any   other fee the board is authorized by law to impose, and may not be   considered in determining the maximum amount of student services   fees that may be imposed under Section 54.503.          [(f)  Subject to the limitations of this section on the   amount of the fee and any increase in the amount of the fee, the fee   imposed under this section must be in the same amount as the   intercollegiate athletics fee charged a student at Texas Southmost   College by the board of trustees of Southmost Union Junior College   District. A student attending either or both institutions may be   charged an intercollegiate athletics fee by only one of the   institutions.          [(g)  The board may not impose the fee authorized by this   section on a student who is enrolled solely in online courses at the   university.]          SECTION 6.  Section 61.003(3), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:                (3)  "General academic teaching institution" means The   University of Texas at Austin; The University of Texas at El Paso;   The University of Texas of the Permian Basin; The University of   Texas at Dallas; The University of Texas at San Antonio; Texas A&M   University, Main University; The University of Texas at Arlington;   Tarleton State University; Prairie View A&M University; Texas   Maritime Academy; Texas Tech University; University of North Texas;   Lamar University; Lamar State College--Orange; Lamar State   College--Port Arthur; Texas A&M University--Kingsville; Texas A&M   University--Corpus Christi; Texas Woman's University; Texas   Southern University; Midwestern State University; University of   Houston; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley [Texas--Pan   American; The University of Texas at Brownsville]; Texas A&M   University--Commerce; Sam Houston State University; Texas State   University; West Texas A&M University; Stephen F. Austin State   University; Sul Ross State University; Angelo State University; The   University of Texas at Tyler; and any other college, university, or   institution so classified as provided in this chapter or created   and so classified, expressly or impliedly, by law.          SECTION 7.  Section 69.22(e), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (e)  The center established under this section shall   cooperate fully with similar programs operated by Texas A&M   International University, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley   [Texas--Pan American, The University of Texas at Brownsville], and   other institutions of higher education.          SECTION 8.  Section 87.504(e), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (e)  The center established under this section shall   cooperate fully with similar programs operated by The University of   Texas at El Paso, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley   [Texas--Pan American, The University of Texas at Brownsville], and   other institutions of higher education.          SECTION 9.  Section 88.601(2), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:                (2)  "Consortium" means Lamar University, Texas A&M   University-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M University at Galveston, The   University of Texas Rio Grande Valley [at Brownsville], Texas A&M   University, Texas Transportation Institute, and the Center for   Transportation Research at The University of Texas at Austin.          SECTION 10.  Section 110.40(h), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (h)  In conducting its activities under this section, the   center shall consult with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley   [Texas-Pan American] Border Health Office that administers the Type   2 Diabetes risk assessment program under Chapter 95, Health and   Safety Code.          SECTION 11.  Section 155.003(b), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  The commission shall appoint an advisory committee to   advise the commission regarding the development of priorities,   guidelines, and procedures for the implementation of this   chapter.  The advisory committee must include representatives of:                (1)  Rice University;                (2)  the University of Houston;                (3)  The University of Texas at Austin;                (4)  Texas A&M University;                (5)  Texas A&M University at Galveston;                (6)  Texas Southern University;                (7)  The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley [at   Brownsville];                (8)  regional planning commissions, councils of   governments, or similar regional planning agencies created under   Chapter 391, Local Government Code, whose membership includes a   municipality or county located in the Gulf Coast Region;                (9)  engineering and construction firms associated   with public works contracts; and                (10)  the medical profession in a major urban area   located in the Gulf Coast Region.          SECTION 12.  Section 490A.003(a), Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The founding members of the network are:                (1)  the Texas Cooperative Extension of The Texas A&M   University System;                (2)  the IC2 Institute at The University of Texas at   Austin;                (3)  the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural   Resources at Texas Tech University;                (4)  the Department of Agriculture;                (5)  the Texas Workforce Commission;                (6)  the Texas Department of Rural Affairs;                (7)  the Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship;                (8)  the Texas Economic Development Council;                (9)  the Texas Center for Border Economic and   Enterprise Development [CoSERVE] at The University of Texas Rio   Grande Valley [Texas--Pan American];                (10)  the office of external affairs at Texas Southern   University; and                (11)  the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and   Free Enterprise at Baylor University.          SECTION 13.  Section 95.001(4), Health and Safety Code, is   amended to read as follows:                (4)  "Office" means The University of Texas Rio Grande   Valley [Texas-Pan American] Border Health Office.          SECTION 14.  Sections 54.546 and 54.550, Education Code, are   repealed.          SECTION 15.  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, 2021.