BILL ANALYSIS
S.B. 11
By: Zaffirini
Finance
03-09-95
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND
When the University of South Texas System was abolished in 1989,
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) became a part of the A&M
University System. At the same time, UT-Brownsville and UT-Pan
American joined the University of Texas System. Transferring TAMIU
into the UT System would more closely align it with these border
institutions and the University of Texas at El Paso. The transfer
would also facilitate developing a regional higher education plan
for the border region and joint/cooperative programs with the
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which
already collaborates with the UT System institutions to increase
needed medical services along the border.
PURPOSE
As proposed, S.B. 11 transfers the Texas A&M International
University from the Texas A&M University System to the University
of Texas System and changes name of the university to the
University of Texas--International.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill grant rulemaking
authority to board of regents of the University of Texas System in
SECTION 14 (Sec. 79.001(d), Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. CHANGE OF NAME. (a) Changes the name of Texas A&M
International University (A&M) to the University of Texas-International (UTI).
(b) Provides that a reference in law to A&M means UTI.
(c) Requires the board of regents (board) of the University
of Texas System (UT System) to conform the names of the Center
for Border Economic and Enterprise Development (center) and
other components or programs operated by or in connection with
A&M on the effective date of this Act to reflect the change of
the name of that university made by this Act.
SECTION 2. TRANSFER. (a) Provides that the governance, operation,
management, and control of UTI, formerly A&M, along with all right,
title, and interest in the land, buildings, facilities,
improvements, equipment, supplies, and property comprising that
institution, are transferred from the board of the Texas A&M System
(A&M System) to the board of the UT System.
(b) Provides that the transfer made by this section includes
the center and all other components or programs operated by
or in connection with the A&M on the effective date of this
Act.
SECTION 3. POWERS AND DUTIES. Requires the board of UT System to
undertake to govern, operate, manage, and control UTI and all land,
buildings, facilities, improvements, equipment, supplies, and
property comprising that institution pursuant to the powers,
duties, and responsibilities conferred by law on the board of the
UT System for the governance, operation, management, and control of
component institutions comprising the system.
SECTION 4. APPROPRIATIONS. Transfers appropriations made for the
use and benefit of UTI under the governance of the board of the A&M
System to the board of UT System for the use and benefit of that
institution. Requires other funds held for the use and benefit of
UTI to continue to be available for the use and benefit of that
institution notwithstanding the change in governance made by this
Act.
SECTION 5. CONTRACTS AND WRITTEN OBLIGATIONS. Provides that all
contracts and written obligations, including bonds, entered into by
the board of the A&M System for and on behalf of UTI are ratified,
confirmed, and validated. Provides that the board of UT System is
substituted for and stands and acts in the place of the board of
the A&M System in those contracts and written obligations.
Requires UT System to deposit a certain part of the revenue to the
credit of the A&M System.
SECTION 6. EMPLOYEE INSURANCE AND OTHER BENEFITS. Provides that
any contract or other agreement with a provider of insurance or
employee benefits that provides coverage for employees of A&M is
not void nor does it terminate on the effective date of this Act.
Provides that any such contract remains in full force and effect
until its date of expiration unless it terminates before the
expiration date in accordance with its terms. Provides that all
persons for whom the insurance is provided on the effective date of
this Act are covered by the insurance in accordance with the terms
of those agreements until the respective dates of termination or
expiration of those agreements. Requires the persons covered by
the agreements who are employees of UT System on the respective
termination or expiration dates of those agreements to be included
in any similar agreements that relate to other employees of UT
System and are in effect on the termination or expiration dates.
SECTION 7. EFFECT OF TRANSFER ON STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES.
Provides the transfer of governance, operation, management, and
control of UT from the board of the A&M System to the board of UT
System does not effect the credit hours earned by students at that
institution before the effective date of this Act or the employment
status on the effective date of this Act of the administration,
faculty, or support staff of UTI.
SECTION 8. Amends Section 55.1712, Education Code, as follows:
Sec. 55.1712. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS--INTERNATIONAL. Makes
conforming changes.
SECTION 9. Amends Section 55.1713(a), Education Code, to delete the
authority of A&M System to issue $36 million in bonds for Texas A&M
International University.
SECTION 10. Amends Section 61.0592, Education Code, as follows:
Sec. 61.0592. New heading: UPPER-LEVEL TRANSITION FUNDING
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS--INTERNATIONAL. Makes conforming
changes.
SECTION 11. Amends Section 62.021(a), Education Code, to make
conforming changes.
SECTION 12. Amends Section 69.22(e), Education Code, to make a
conforming change.
SECTION 13. Amends Section 77.36(e), Education Code, to make a
conforming change.
SECTION 14. Amends Title 3C, Education Code, by adding Chapter
79, as follows:
CHAPTER 79. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS--INTERNATIONAL
Sec. 79.001. ESTABLISHMENT; SCOPE. (a) Provides that UTI
is a coeducational institution of higher education located in
the city of Laredo. Provides that the institution is a
component institution of UT System and is under the management
and control of the board of UT System.
(b) Provides that the board has the same powers and duties
concerning UTI as are conferred on it by statute concerning
UT-at Austin.
(c) Authorizes the institution to teach undergraduate or
graduate level courses.
Sec. 79.002. COURSES AND DEGREES; RULES; JOINT APPOINTMENTS.
(a) Authorizes the board, with the approval of the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board (coordinating board), to
prescribe courses leading to customary degrees as are offered
at leading American educational institutions and to award
those degrees.
(b) Authorizes those degrees offered by the institution to
include baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees and
their equivalents.
(c) Prohibits a new department, school, or degree program
from being instituted without the prior approval of the
coordinating board.
(d) Requires the board to adopt rules for the operation,
control, and management of UT as may be necessary for the
institution to be a first-class institution of higher
education.
(e) Authorizes the board to make joint faculty appointments
in UTI and in other institutions under its governance.
Requires the salary of a person who receives a joint
appointment to be apportioned to the appointing institution
on the basis of services rendered.
(f) Authorizes the board, with the approval of the
coordinating board, to contract with the governing board on
another general academic teaching institution as defined by
Section 61.003 or with the governing board of a college of
university in the United States or Canada to offer joint
degree programs.
Sec. 79.003. GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
Requires a graduate school of international trade to be
established at UTI, subject to the approval of the
coordinating board.
Sec. 79.004. CENTER FOR BORDER ECONOMIC AND ENTERPRISE
DEVELOPMENT. (a) Requires the board to establish a center
for border economic and enterprise development at UTI.
(b) Authorizes the center established under this section to
develop and manage an economic database concerning the
Texas-Mexico border (border); perform economic development
planning and research; provide technical assistance to
industrial and governmental entities; and in cooperation
with other state agencies, coordinate economic and
enterprise development planning activities of state agencies
to ensure that the economic needs of the border are
integrated within a comprehensive state economic development
plan.
(c) Authorizes the center to offer seminars and conduct
conferences and other educational programs concerning the
border economy and economic and enterprise development
within the state.
(d) Requires the center established under this section to
cooperate fully with similar programs operated by the
University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Texas--Pan
American, and other institutions of higher education.
SECTION 15. Amends Section 481.060(b), Government Code, to make
a conforming change.
SECTION 16. Repealer: Chapter 87F, Education Code, (Texas A&M
International System).
SECTION 17. Effective date: September 1, 1995.
SECTION 18. Emergency clause.