MMA H.B. 2616 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS HIGHER EDUCATION H.B. 2616 By: Jones, Delwin 4-30-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Texas Tech University (TTU) has on its list of graduates, a number of distinguished Texans who have contributed to our state. H.B. 2616 would allow TTU to honor these outstanding individuals by accepting donations, gifts, grants and endowments to erect statues of these distinguished Texans who are Texas Tech graduates. PURPOSE H.B. 2616 would allow the Board of Regents of TTU to erect statues on campus of distinguished Texans who are graduates of TTU. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 109, Education Code by adding Sec. 109.53, to read as follows: Sec. 109.53. STATUES OF DISTINGUISHED TEXANS. (a) Authorizes the board of regents of Texas Tech University (board) to erect and display statues of distinguished Texans who are also graduates of TTU or a TTU component. (b) Requires the board to designate an area to display the statues. Requires the area to be visible from the main entrance of the university and near other statues symbolic to the university. (c) Requires the board to move a statue of a distinguished Texan who meets the specific standards of Subsection (a) to an area designated under Subsection (b). (d) Authorizes the board to accept donations, gifts, grants and endowments for purposes of this section. Requires a statue to be purchased, erected, and displayed only with funds accepted under this subsection. SECTION 2. Emergency clause.