| |
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |