By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 6
73R2855 SOS-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to Laredo State University; making an appropriation.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Sections 87.501(a) and (c), Education Code, are
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 (a) Laredo State University is a coeducational <upper-level>
1-7 educational institution located in the city of Laredo. The
1-8 <upper-level> institution is a component institution of The Texas
1-9 A&M University System and is under the management and control of
1-10 the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System.
1-11 (c) The <upper-level> institution may teach undergraduate or
1-12 graduate <only junior, senior, and master's> level courses.
1-13 SECTION 2. Sections 87.502(a), (b), and (d), Education Code,
1-14 are amended to read as follows:
1-15 (a) The board, with the approval of the Texas Higher
1-16 Education Coordinating Board, may prescribe courses leading to
1-17 customary degrees as are offered at leading American educational
1-18 institutions and may award those degrees.
1-19 (b) The degrees offered by the <upper-level> institution may
1-20 include <only> baccalaureate, <and> master's, and doctoral degrees
1-21 and their equivalents.
1-22 (d) The board shall adopt other rules for the operation,
1-23 control, and management of Laredo State University as may be
1-24 necessary for the institution to be a first-class <upper-level>
2-1 institution of higher education.
2-2 SECTION 3. Section 87.502, Education Code, is amended by
2-3 adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
2-4 (f) The board, with the approval of the Texas Higher
2-5 Education Coordinating Board, may contract with the governing board
2-6 of another general academic teaching institution, as defined by
2-7 Section 61.003 of this code, or with the governing board of a
2-8 college or university in Mexico, to offer joint degree programs.
2-9 SECTION 4. Subchapter F, Chapter 87, Education Code, is
2-10 amended by adding Section 87.505 to read as follows:
2-11 Sec. 87.505. INTERIM FUNDING. (a) Except as provided by
2-12 Subsection (b) of this section, in addition to the funding that is
2-13 provided by the regular general academic teaching institution
2-14 formulas, and other funding that the university is entitled to
2-15 receive, the university is entitled to receive the incremental
2-16 funding for the number of students enrolled in junior or senior
2-17 level courses as that provided by the upper-level formula for
2-18 general academic teaching institutions that enroll only junior and
2-19 senior undergraduate students. The coordinating board shall
2-20 reflect the university's entitlement to funds under this subsection
2-21 in preparing the appropriations recommendations under Section
2-22 61.059 of this code.
2-23 (b) The coordinating board shall certify to the legislature
2-24 when the ratio of the number of students enrolled at the university
2-25 in junior or senior level courses to the number of students
2-26 enrolled at the university in freshman or sophomore level courses
2-27 is the same as the ratio of the number of students enrolled at
3-1 other four-year general academic teaching institutions in junior or
3-2 senior level courses to the number of students enrolled at those
3-3 institutions in freshman or sophomore level courses. The
3-4 university is not entitled to the funding under Subsection (a) of
3-5 this section for a biennium that begins after the certification is
3-6 made under this subsection.
3-7 (c) In this section:
3-8 (1) "Coordinating Board" means the Texas Higher
3-9 Education Coordinating Board.
3-10 (2) "General academic teaching institution" has the
3-11 meaning assigned by Section 61.003 of this code.
3-12 (3) "University" means Laredo State University.
3-13 SECTION 5. In addition to other amounts appropriated for the
3-14 fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 1993, the sum of $15,000,000
3-15 is appropriated for that period from the general revenue fund to
3-16 Laredo State University for the purpose of erecting and equipping
3-17 permanent improvements for the university, including facilities and
3-18 buildings.
3-19 SECTION 6. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this
3-20 section, this Act takes effect immediately.
3-21 (b) Sections 1, 2, and 4 of this Act take effect beginning
3-22 with the fall semester in 1995.
3-23 SECTION 7. The importance of this legislation and the
3-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-25 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-26 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-27 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-1 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
4-2 terms, and it is so enacted.