Athletic Fee Bill Introduces To State Senate

UNTflyer · January 14, 2009

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Hi...&Bill=SB473

The last clause of the bill is interesting:

SECTION A 2. "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, 2009."

This is probably why ground-breaking target date shifted from this summer to next January.

Edited January 14, 2009 by UNTflyer

NT03 · January 14, 2009

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Hi...&Bill=SB473

Any idea how long this may take to pass / fail ??

UNTflyer · January 14, 2009

Any idea how long this may take to pass / fail ??

The legislature adjourns on June 1.

Bryan316 · January 14, 2009

So, regardless of whether it gets the 2/3 vote, it still goes into effect. Did I read that right?

UNTflyer · January 14, 2009

So, regardless of whether it gets the 2/3 vote, it still goes into effect. Did I read that right?

No. Here is section 39:

SEC. 39. No laws passed by the Legislature, except the general appropriation act, shall take effect or go into force until ninety days after the adjournment of the session at which it was enacted, unless in case of an emergency which emergency must be expressed in a preamble or in the body of the act, the Legislature shall, by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, otherwise direct; said vote to be taken by yeas and nays, and entered upon the journals.

Otherwise, it needs a simple majority and the signature of Governor Good Hair.

Edited January 14, 2009 by UNTflyer

NT80 · January 14, 2009

That is good news that it got filed on the first day in session. Will this stay as a stand-alone bill or could it get attached to something? Keep us posted, it's the only good news we fans have now regarding UNT sports these days. :rolleyes:

UNT_playmaker · January 14, 2009

Good News indeed. But still you would think ground-breaking could be this summer....since it was filed on the first day....

Man I really can't wait till we start building this stadium.

UNTflyer · January 14, 2009

That is good news that it got filed on the first day in session. Will this stay as a stand-alone bill or could it get attached to something? Keep us posted, it's the only good news we fans have now regarding UNT sports these days.

Since it is a bill, it won't get attached to anything else... however, amendments can be tacked on.

Green Mean · January 14, 2009

Is there any chance of it not passing? If so what are the chances? And hypothetically if it does not pass then what does NT do from there?

UNTflyer · January 14, 2009

I would be very surprised if it does not pass. There are two athletics fee bills in the Senate, one for us and the other for Midwestern State University. There is no reason to oppose it.

UNT90 · January 14, 2009

It's a bill...on capital hill...and someday it will be a law!!

Great news, and we really, really needed it.

TIgreen01 · January 14, 2009

well....technically the legislature may not even get to this bill in the limited time that they meet (90 days). Correct? Seems like that is the biggest concern left and it's not something we have any control over. Keep your fingers crossed....

FireFightnJoey · January 14, 2009

Did it pass yet?! The suspense is killing me!!!

Huff · January 14, 2009

You are correct in saying that there is no reason to oppose this bill BUT there was no reason the oppose the bill to establish the law school in the last legislative session either BUT it got into a fur ball late in the session and never got through. As the great philosopher Yogi Berra once observed "it ain't over 'til it's over". Truer words were never spoken.

UNT90 · January 14, 2009

You are correct in saying that there is no reason to oppose this bill BUT there was no reason the oppose the bill to establish the law school in the last legislative session either BUT it got into a fur ball late in the session and never got through. As the great philosopher Yogi Berra once observed "it ain't over 'til it's over". Truer words were never spoken.

The law school bill was attached to a very controversial bill (Can't remember the issue), which is why it did not pass. Let's pray that this is a stand alone bill and doesn't get attached to anything remotely controversial.

Flyer, do you know the name off the sponsoring Rep for this bill? Would calling our individual reps be advantageous as far as moving this thing forward?

Edited January 14, 2009 by UNT90

Green to the Bone · January 15, 2009

The law school bill was attached to a very controversial bill (Can't remember the issue), which is why it did not pass. Let's pray that this is a stand alone bill and doesn't get attached to anything remotely controversial.
Flyer, do you know the name off the sponsoring Rep for this bill? Would calling our individual reps be advantageous as far as moving this thing forward?

The sponsor is Sen. Craig Estes, a Republican from Wichita Falls. Most of his district consists of wide open spaces with cows. but it also includes Denton, which is why he's the one to do this.

Sen. Estes is a four-term senator in the majority party. As long as it doesn't get left behind in the rush, there's no reason to worry about this except for concern over holding down college costs. But the decisive vote of the students is a big plus in that regard.

Estes, by the way, is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, so everybody on this board watch your language.

UNTflyer · January 15, 2009

It's a bill...on capital hill...and someday it will be a law!!
Great news, and we really, really needed it.

mEJL2Uuv-oQ

UNTflyer · January 15, 2009

Estes, by the way, is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, so everybody on this board watch your language.

I giggle every time someone says "Oral Roberts"

C&S · January 15, 2009

Any idea how long this may take to pass / fail ??

Once a bill is filled it is sent to a committee which in this cause will probably be the higher education committee which is chaired by Sen. Kirk Watson-Austin. Once the committee looks over the bill, it will then be placed on the calendar or sent to the calendar committee to be introduced on the Senate floor be debate, discussion and vote. It is in committee when other things get tacked on. This may not be a stand only bill. It could come with other higher education issues attached.

UNTflyer · January 15, 2009

Yup, and it has not yet been sent to a committee. After the Senate, it goes to the House. It could take months, folks.

Edited January 15, 2009 by UNTflyer

NT80 · January 15, 2009

Yup, and it has not yet been sent to a committee. After the Senate, it goes to the House. It could take months, folks.

I know this was student initiated and not tuition based but could this bill be affected by the current climate to keep college costs low and the fixed-rate-tuition group?

UNT90 · January 15, 2009

mEJL2Uuv-oQ

Thank you for revisiting that fond childhood memory.

UNTflyer · January 15, 2009

I know this was student initiated and not tuition based but could this bill be affected by the current climate to keep college costs low and the fixed-rate-tuition group?

No, because the lobby for that agree that fees should continue to be increased provided they have student support.