UNT-related bills pend voting in Texas Legislature

by Mary Pharris of North Texas Daily

Members of the Texas House of Representative's Higher Education Committee heard testimony Wednesday about the proposed athletics fee for UNT students.

House Bill 2024, authored by Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, relates to the increase in the student athletics fee that UNT students voted on in October. The bill reads that the Board of Regents may charge "each student enrolled at the University of North Texas an intercollegiate athletics fee in an amount not to exceed $10 per semester credit hour for each semester or summer session."

The fee is capped at 15 credit hours and will not take effect until construction is completed, according to an Oct. 21 Daily article. Rick Villarreal, athletics director, said in a previous interview that he expects construction to be finished in spring 2011.

UNT President Gretchen Bataille, Student Government Association President Jeff Kline, and Student Regent Meghan Vittrup traveled to Austin to speak on the legislation.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to travel to Austin to speak on behalf of students regarding the legislation on the athletic fee and stadium that UNT students voted on last fall," Vittrup said Tuesday.

An identical bill, Senate Bill 473, authored by Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, is pending in the Senate's Higher Education Committee.

"UNT is a vibrant and growing institution and I am happy to support the students and administration in their efforts," Crownover said.

Law school legislation moves forward in House, Senate

The legislation regarding to the establishment of a law school in downtown Dallas by the UNT System was unanimously voted out of the House's Higher Education Committee last month and the Senate's Education committee Tuesday.

Only one member was absent for the senate committee's voting.

The legislation has been sent to the House's Calendar Committee, which sets the debate calendar.

"It's moving, which is a good sign," said Cynthia Hall, director of system and external relations at NT.

If passed, the legislation will allow for the city of Dallas to give the Municipal Building, located at 106 S. Harwood St. in downtown, to the NT System. The law school will eventually be incorporated to UNT-Dallas, according to a March 5 Daily article.

Campus concealed carry bill still pending in committee

Legislation allowing licensed individuals to carry concealed weapons on campus is still pending in the House's Public Safety Committee after hearing public testimony last month.

House Bill 1893, authored by Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland, has more than 50 co-authors. An identical bill, Senate Bill 1164, authored by Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, is also pending in the Senate's State Affairs committee. Thirteen senators have signed on as authors or co-authors of the legislation including NT's representative, Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls.

Currently, all college campuses in the U.S. are gun-free zones.

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