87R9551 KJE-D

By: Springer, Miles S.B. No. 1126

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas Woman's University System.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 107, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 107. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

SECTION 2. Section 107.01, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.01. TEXAS WOMAN'S [LOCATION AND PURPOSE OF] UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. The Texas Woman's University System is a woman-focused system composed of:

(1) Texas Woman's University;

(2) Texas Woman's University at Dallas; and

(3) Texas Woman's University at Houston [an institution of higher education for women with its main campus at Denton].

SECTION 3. Section 107.21, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.21. BOARD OF REGENTS. (a) The board of regents of the system [university] is composed of nine persons, four of whom must [shall] be women, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.

(b) Each member of the board must [shall] be a qualified voter, [;] and the members must [shall] be selected from different portions of the state.

(c) The members hold office for staggered terms of six years, with the terms of three expiring February 1 of odd-numbered years.

SECTION 4. Section 107.23, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.23. BOARD MEETINGS; MINUTES. The presiding officer shall convene the board to consider any business connected with the system [university] whenever the presiding officer deems it expedient. A full record shall be kept of all the board's proceedings.

SECTION 5. Section 107.42, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.42. STAFF. (a) The board shall appoint a chief executive officer [president] of the system [university] and other officers and employees it deems proper and shall fix their salaries.

(b) The chief executive officer of the system shall also serve as the president of Texas Woman's University.

(c) The board shall make rules and regulations for the government of the system's [university's] staff as it deems advisable.

SECTION 6. Section 107.44, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.44. RULES AND REGULATIONS. The board shall adopt rules and regulations it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the system [institution] and to enforce the faithful discharge of the duties of all officers, professors, and students.

SECTION 7. Section 107.45(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The board of regents has the power of eminent domain to acquire for the use of the system [university] in the manner prescribed by Chapter 21, Property Code, any real property that may be necessary and proper for carrying out its purposes.

SECTION 8. Section 107.46, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.46. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The board is specifically authorized, upon terms and conditions acceptable to it, to accept, retain, and administer gifts, grants, or donations of any kind, including real estate or money, from any source, for use by the system [university], and to carry out the directions, limitations, and provisions declared in writing in the gifts, grants, or donations.

SECTION 9. Section 107.62, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.62. OBLIGATIONS; PLEDGE OF REVENUE. In payment for the erecting and equipping of dormitories and improvements, the board may issue its obligations in the amount and on the terms deemed advisable by the board. As security the board may pledge the income from the dormitories and improvements erected or from other dormitories owned by the system [university], as well as all other revenue derived by the system [university] from other sources, except revenue derived by means of appropriations made for a specific purpose by the legislature.

SECTION 10. Section 107.63, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.63. SALE OF REAL ESTATE. The board may sell or encumber any part of [the campus or] real property [estate] owned by the system [university] for the purpose of obtaining funds with which to erect and equip these improvements or for the purpose of securing the payment of its obligations issued to any person, firm, or corporation for the erecting or equipping of these improvements.

SECTION 11. Section 107.64, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.64. REQUIRED DORMITORY RESIDENCE. The board may adopt regulations it deems reasonable requiring any class or classes of students to reside in system [university] dormitories or other buildings.

SECTION 12. Section 107.65, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.65. MANAGEMENT OF DORMITORIES. The board has absolute and sole management and control of system [university] dormitories and other improvements.

SECTION 13. Section 107.67, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.67. LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS. In the erecting, or in contracts for the erecting, of dormitories and other improvements, the board may not in any manner incur any indebtedness against the system [university] except as provided in Sections 107.62 and 107.63 [of this code]. The obligations incurred in the erecting of dormitories and other improvements may never be personal obligations of the system [university] but shall be discharged solely from the revenue or property authorized to be pledged for that purpose.

SECTION 14. Section 107.69(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The board may establish an historical collection of items illustrating the history of women in Texas. The historical collection is to be housed in a building belonging to the system [university] and is to be known as "The History of Texas Women." When established, the historical collection may be designated a state historical collection and shall be for the use and enjoyment of all citizens of Texas.

SECTION 15. Section 107.81(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Campus security personnel commissioned under Section 51.203 [of this code] have concurrent jurisdiction with police officers of a municipality in which a component institution of the system is located [the City of Denton] to enforce all criminal laws, including traffic laws, of the state and all ordinances of the municipality [city] regulating traffic on any public street running through the property of the system [university] and on any public street immediately adjacent to property owned or occupied and controlled by the system [university].

SECTION 16. Sections 107.82(a), (c), (d), and (e), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The board of regents and the governing body of a municipality in which a component institution of the system is located [city council of Denton] may enter into written agreements, authorized by resolution of each governing body, to authorize the regular employed peace officers of the system [university] to assist the peace officers of the municipality [city] in enforcing the laws of the state and the ordinances of the municipality [city] at any location in the municipality [city].

(c) While acting pursuant to the agreement in Subsection (a) [above] and when such act is outside the property of the system [university] or outside any public street running through, adjacent to, or within property owned or occupied and controlled by the system [university], the peace officers of the system [university] are under the jurisdiction and command of the chief of police of the municipality [Denton].

(d) Neither the state nor the system [university] is liable for actions of a campus police officer acting under the jurisdiction and command of the chief of police of the municipality [Denton].

(e) The system has [university shall have] jurisdiction over its personnel and students upon property owned by the system [university] to the extent that it may:

(1) assign and regulate parking spaces for its use and charge and collect appropriate fees for parking and improper parking;

(2) prohibit parking where it deems necessary; and

(3) set and collect fees for and remove vehicles parked in violation of its rules and regulations or the laws of the State of Texas.

SECTION 17. Section 107.83, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.83. CITY DELEGATION OF PARKING REGULATION AUTHORITY. (a) By contract between the municipality [city] and the system [university], the governing body [city council] of the municipality in which a component institution of the system is located [Denton] may delegate to the system [university] the authority to regulate the parking of vehicles on any public street running through or immediately adjacent to property owned or occupied and controlled by the system [university].

(b) The contract may authorize the system [university] to assign and regulate parking spaces for its use, to charge and collect a fee from its personnel and students for parking, to prohibit parking, and to charge and collect a fee for removing vehicles parked in violation of law or ordinance or in violation of a rule governing the parking of vehicles adopted by the board. All parking violations shall be filed in the municipal court [Municipal Court of Denton] or the justice of the peace court having jurisdiction over the offense.

(c) Before the contract is considered by the governing body of the municipality [city council] or the board, the attorney general and the applicable city attorney [of Denton] shall review and either approve the contract or file written legal objections to the contract with the chief executive officer of both the board and the governing body of the municipality [council]. The contract must be approved by resolution of the board and the governing body of the municipality [city council].

SECTION 18. Section 107.84, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 107.84. CONSTRUCTION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter does not:

(1) limit the police powers of a municipality [the city] or its law enforcement jurisdiction;

(2) render a campus peace officer an employee of a municipality [the city] or entitle a campus peace officer to compensation from a municipality [the city]; or

(3) restrict the power of the system [university] under other law to enforce laws, ordinances, or rules regulating traffic or parking.

SECTION 19. Chapter 107, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapters F, G, and H to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY

Sec. 107.101. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY. (a) Texas Woman's University is a woman-focused general academic teaching institution located in the city of Denton.

(b) The university is under the management and control of the board of regents.

SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY AT DALLAS

Sec. 107.151. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY AT DALLAS. (a) Texas Woman's University at Dallas is a woman-focused general academic teaching institution located in the city of Dallas.

(b) The university is under the management and control of the board of regents.

SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY AT HOUSTON

Sec. 107.201. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY AT HOUSTON. (a) Texas Woman's University at Houston is a woman-focused general academic teaching institution located in the city of Houston.

(b) The university is under the management and control of the board of regents.

SECTION 20. Section 50A.010, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 50A.010. DUTIES. (a) The council shall:

(1) adopt procedures as necessary to administer this chapter, including procedures for awarding contracts under this chapter;

(2) issue requests for research proposals and award grants:

(A) to enhance the health benefits of fruits and vegetables; or

(B) to help growers maximize crop yields through applied research;

(3) develop educational materials that promote the benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables; and

(4) in cooperation with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, The Texas A&M University System, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas System, the Texas Woman's University System, state agencies, and produce associations, develop innovative educational programs related to appropriate and safe methods of storing, preparing, and serving fresh produce.

(b) The council may:

(1) issue requests for proposals as necessary to administer this chapter; or

(2) publish educational materials or other materials developed in conjunction with employees of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, The Texas A&M University System, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas System, or the Texas Woman's University System.

SECTION 21. The heading to Section 54.5085, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 54.5085. MEDICAL SERVICES FEE; TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

SECTION 22. Sections 54.5085(a), (b), and (c), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may charge each student registered at a component institution of the system [university] a medical services fee not to exceed $55 for each semester of the regular term or 12-week summer session and not to exceed $25 for each six-week or shorter term of the summer session.

(b) Before the board imposes or increases a fee charged at a component institution under this section, the board shall consider the recommendations of a student fee advisory committee established by the president of the institution [university]. A majority of the members of the advisory committee must be students appointed by the presiding officer of the student governing body of the institution and the remainder of the members must be appointed by the president of the institution [university]. The board may increase the amount of the fee by an amount that is more than 10 percent of the amount imposed in the preceding academic year only if that increase is approved by a majority vote of those students of the institution [university] participating in a general election called for that purpose.

(c) A medical services fee charged at a component institution under this section may be used only to provide medical services to students registered at the institution [university].

SECTION 23. Section 54.525, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 54.525. FEES FOR STUDENT CENTERS; TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM COMPONENTS. (a) The board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may levy a regular, fixed student fee of not less than $25 or more than $75 [per student] for each semester of the long session and of not less than $12.50 or more than $35 [per student] for each term of the summer session on each student enrolled at a component institution of the system, as the board determines is just and necessary for the purpose of financing, improving, operating, maintaining, and equipping student centers and acquiring or constructing additions to student centers.

(b) The board may increase a student fee levied at an institution under this section. If the increase is for more than $3 per fiscal year, a majority of the students enrolled in the institution voting in an election called for that purpose must approve the increase.

(c) Revenue from a fee imposed at an institution under this section shall be deposited to the credit of an account known as the student center fee account ["Texas Woman's University Student Center Fee Account"] under the control of the institution's [university's] student fee advisory committee. Annually, the committee shall submit to the president of the institution [university] its recommendation for any change to the amount of the fee and a complete and itemized budget for the student center together with a complete report of all student center 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 institution's [university's] institutional budget. The board of regents may make changes in the budget that the board determines are necessary.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the board may increase the amount of the fee imposed at an institution for a semester or summer session to an amount that does not exceed $150 if the increase is approved by a majority vote of those students enrolled at the institution participating in a general election called for that purpose. The increased amount under this subsection may not be charged after the fifth academic year in which the increased amount is first charged unless, before the end of that academic year, the institution has issued bonds payable from the fee, in which event the increased amount may not be charged after the academic year in which all such bonds, including refunding bonds for those bonds, have been fully paid.

SECTION 24. Section 54.5251, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 54.5251. STUDENT FITNESS AND RECREATIONAL FEE; TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) The board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may charge each student enrolled at a component institution of the system [university] a student fitness and recreational fee in an amount not to exceed:

(1) $125 for each regular semester or each summer session of more than six weeks; or

(2) $62.50 for each summer session of six weeks or less.

(b) The fee may be used only for financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, or improving a fitness or recreational facility or for operating a fitness or recreational program at the institution [university].

(c) The fee may not be imposed unless approved by a majority vote of the students of the institution [university] who participate in a general student election held for that purpose.

(d) The 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 the students enrolled at the institution [university] who participate in a general student election called for that purpose.

(e) The chief fiscal officer of the institution [university] shall collect the fee and shall deposit the revenue from the fee in an account to be known as the student fitness and recreational account.

(f) The fee is not 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 institution [university] to use a facility financed with revenue from the fee imposed at the institution under this section only if:

(1) the person's use will not materially interfere with use of the facility by students of the institution [university];

(2) the person is charged a fee in an amount that is not less than the amount of the student fee or the total amount of the direct and indirect costs to the institution [university] of providing for the person's use, except that a charge under this subdivision may not be imposed on a person who uses the facility under an existing lifetime contract with the institution [university] for the use of fitness and recreational facilities; and

(3) the person's use will not materially increase the potential liability of the institution [university].

SECTION 25. Section 55.1718, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 55.1718. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) The board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property, buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure for a component institution of the system [Texas Woman's University] to be financed by the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter in the aggregate principal amount of $5 million.

(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of the Texas Woman's University System, including student tuition charges required or authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at a component institution of the system [Texas Woman's University]. The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.

SECTION 26. Section 55.1726, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 55.1726. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) The board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property, buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure for a component institution of the system [Texas Woman's University] to be financed by the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $8.5 million.

(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of the Texas Woman's University System, including student tuition charges required or authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at a component institution of the system [Texas Woman's University]. The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.

SECTION 27. Section 55.1736, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 55.1736. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may issue bonds in accordance with this subchapter in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,797,500 to finance the renovation of academic and administrative buildings at a component institution of the system [Texas Woman's University].

(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of the Texas Woman's University System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.

(c) Any portion of the proceeds of bonds authorized by this section for one or more specified projects that is not required for the specified projects may be used to renovate existing structures and facilities at a component [the] institution of the system.

SECTION 28. Section 55.1756, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 55.1756. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for renovations and additions to the science building on the Denton campus of Texas Woman's University, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $21,739,712.

(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of the Texas Woman's University System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.

SECTION 29. Section 55.1786, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 55.1786. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for a laboratory building, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $37,997,000.

(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of the Texas Woman's University System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.

SECTION 30. 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 Woman's University at Dallas; Texas Woman's University at Houston; Texas Southern University; Midwestern State University; University of Houston; University of 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 31. Section 62.021(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) In each state fiscal year beginning with the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, an eligible institution is entitled to receive an amount allocated in accordance with this section from the funds appropriated for that year by Section 17(a), Article VII, Texas Constitution. The comptroller shall distribute funds allocated under this subsection only on presentation of a claim and issuance of a warrant in accordance with Section 403.071, Government Code. An eligible institution may not present a claim to be paid from any funds allocated under this subsection before the delivery of goods or services described in Section 17, Article VII, Texas Constitution, except for the payment of principal or interest on bonds or notes or for a payment for a book or other published library material as authorized by Section 2155.386, Government Code. The allocation of funds under this subsection is made in accordance with an equitable formula consisting of the following elements: space deficit, facilities condition, institutional complexity, and a separate allocation for the Texas State Technical College System. The annual amounts allocated by the formula are as follows:

(1) $4,933,200 to Midwestern State University;

(2) to the following component institutions of the University of North Texas System:

(A) $37,346,563 to the University of North Texas;

(B) $15,125,502 to the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth; and

(C) $3,354,441 to the University of North Texas at Dallas;

(3) $11,277,793 to Stephen F. Austin State University;

(4) to the following component institutions of the Texas State University System:

(A) $13,141,181 to Lamar University;

(B) $2,553,130 to the Lamar Institute of Technology;

(C) $1,488,396 to Lamar State College--Orange;

(D) $2,217,102 to Lamar State College--Port Arthur;

(E) $18,236,811 to Sam Houston State University;

(F) $37,606,478 to Texas State University;

(G) $2,151,723 to Sul Ross State University; and

(H) $472,890 to Sul Ross State University-Rio Grande College;

(5) $11,719,335 to Texas Southern University;

(6) to the following component institutions of the Texas Tech University System:

(A) $49,874,746 to Texas Tech University;

(B) $21,652,392 to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center;

(C) $6,792,999 to Angelo State University; and

(D) $5,557,572 to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center--El Paso;

(7) $14,554,133 to the component institutions of the Texas Woman's University System, allocated as determined by the board of regents of the system;

(8) to the following component institutions of the University of Houston System:

(A) $54,514,004 to the University of Houston;

(B) $3,542,817 to the University of Houston--Victoria;

(C) $7,726,043 to the University of Houston--Clear Lake; and

(D) $10,828,344 to the University of Houston--Downtown;

(9) to the following component institutions of The Texas A&M University System:

(A) $11,478,824 to Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi;

(B) $7,462,394 to Texas A&M International University;

(C) $8,858,060 to Texas A&M University--Kingsville;

(D) $7,446,495 to West Texas A&M University;

(E) $11,123,859 to Texas A&M University--Commerce; and

(F) $2,050,273 to Texas A&M University--Texarkana; and

(10) $8,662,500 to the Texas State Technical College System Administration and the following component campuses, but not its extension centers or programs:

(A) Texas State Technical College-Harlingen;

(B) Texas State Technical College--Marshall;

(C) Texas State Technical College--West Texas;

(D) Texas State Technical College--Waco;

(E) Texas State Technical College--Fort Bend; and

(F) Texas State Technical College--North Texas.

SECTION 32. Section 301.001(1), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(1) "Eligible institution" means an entity engaged in health-related pursuits that, except for cooperative associations, is exempt from federal income tax and includes only:

(A) a municipality;

(B) a political subdivision of the state;

(C) a state-supported health-related institution, including:

(i) The Texas A&M University System;

(ii) The University of Texas System; and

(iii) the Texas Woman's University System;

(D) a nonprofit health-related institution; or

(E) a cooperative association created under Subchapter B, a unit of which is located in a county with a population of more than 3.3 million.

SECTION 33. Section 301.031(1), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(1) "Eligible institution" means an entity engaged in health-related pursuits that, except for cooperative associations, is exempt from federal income tax and includes only:

(A) a municipality;

(B) a political subdivision of the state;

(C) a health-related institution supported by the state or federal government or by a federal department, division, or agency, including:

(i) The Texas A&M University System;

(ii) The University of Texas System;

(iii) the Texas Woman's University System; and

(iv) the Children's Nutrition Research Center;

(D) a nonprofit health-related institution; and

(E) a cooperative association created to provide a system, a unit of which is located in a county that has a population of more than 1.3 million and in which a municipality with a population of more than one million is primarily located, or in a county contiguous to a county having those characteristics.

SECTION 34. (a) The transition of Texas Woman's University to the Texas Woman's University System under this Act does not affect the validity of any contracts or written obligations, including bonds, entered into by the board of regents of Texas Woman's University on the university's behalf. In those contracts and written obligations, the board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System is substituted for and stands and acts in the place of the board of regents of Texas Woman's University to the extent permitted by law.

(b) The transition of Texas Woman's University to the Texas Woman's University System under this Act does not affect:

(1) the status of any student enrolled at the university when the transition takes effect; or

(2) the employment status or accrued benefits of any person employed by the university when the transition takes effect.

(c) All funds that, on the effective date of the transition, have been appropriated to or dedicated to or are held for the use and benefit of Texas Woman's University are transferred to the Texas Woman's University System for the use and benefit of the system to the extent permitted by law.

(d) Fees previously approved and charged to students of Texas Woman's University are considered approved and may continue to be charged and used for the same purposes at each component institution of the Texas Woman's University System in the same amounts as charged in the 2020-2021 academic year, subject to future changes approved as authorized by law.

(e) The changes in law made by this Act to Sections 55.1718, 55.1726, 55.1736, 55.1756, and 55.1786, Education Code, do not authorize bonds in an amount that exceeds the original amount of bonds authorized by those sections.

(f) Degree programs previously offered at the branch locations of Texas Woman's University that are designated as independent component institutions of the Texas Woman's University System under Chapter 107, Education Code, as amended by this Act, are considered to have been approved as degree programs of the respective component institutions.

(g) The board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may take any action necessary to transition Texas Woman's University to the Texas Woman's University System under this Act, including by:

(1) allocating university funds, property, and personnel as the board determines appropriate between the system's component institutions;

(2) continuing to operate the branch locations of Texas Woman's University that are designated as independent component institutions of the Texas Woman's University System under Chapter 107, Education Code, as amended by this Act, as branch locations of the university until the board determines that transitioning those branch locations to independent component institutions of the system is appropriate and feasible; and

(3) postponing the effect of any other changes made by this Act as the board determines appropriate.

SECTION 35. 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.