S.B. No. 1467

	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.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1467 passed the Senate on
	May 5, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1467 passed the House on
	May 14, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 119, Nays 26, two
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor