By Junell, Rodriguez, Kamel, Price, Cuellar, H.B. No. 1235
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds for certain
1-3 public institutions of higher education.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 55.17(e), Education Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows:
1-7 (4) In addition to the other authority granted by this
1-8 subchapter, the board of regents of Texas Tech University and the
1-9 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center may issue bonds in
1-10 accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a systemwide
1-11 revenue financing program adopted by the board to finance the items
1-12 listed under Subdivision (1) of this subsection in an additional
1-13 aggregate principal amount for Texas Tech University not to exceed
1-14 $66 million, and in an additional aggregate principal amount for
1-15 the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center not to exceed
1-16 $51.2 million. The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of
1-17 those bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of Texas Tech
1-18 University or the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center,
1-19 including student tuition charges required or authorized by law to
1-20 be imposed on students enrolled at Texas Tech University or at the
1-21 Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The amount of a
1-22 pledge made under this subdivision may not be reduced or abrogated
1-23 while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to
1-24 refund those bonds, are outstanding.
1-25 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is
2-1 amended by adding Sections 55.1721, 55.1722, 55.1723, 55.1724,
2-2 55.1725, 55.1726, 55.1727, and 55.1728 to read as follows:
2-3 Sec. 55.1721. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) In
2-4 addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
2-5 board of regents of The Texas A&M University System may acquire,
2-6 purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property,
2-7 buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure
2-8 for the following institutions to be financed by the issuance of
2-9 bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a
2-10 systemwide revenue financing program adopted by the board in
2-11 aggregate principal amounts not to exceed the following amounts:
2-12 (1) Prairie View A&M University, $15 million;
2-13 (2) Tarleton State University, $15 million;
2-14 (3) Texas A&M University--Commerce, $10 million;
2-15 (4) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi, $30 million;
2-16 (5) Texas A&M International University, $70 million;
2-17 (6) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $17.5 million;
2-18 (7) Texas A&M University--Texarkana, $5 million; and
2-19 (8) West Texas A&M University, $10 million.
2-20 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
2-21 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of an institution,
2-22 branch, or entity of The Texas A&M University System, including
2-23 student tuition charges required or authorized by law to be imposed
2-24 on students enrolled at an institution, branch, or entity of The
2-25 Texas A&M University System. The amount of a pledge made under
2-26 this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
2-27 which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
3-1 are outstanding.
3-2 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
3-3 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
3-4 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The Texas A&M
3-5 University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
3-6 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
3-7 entity to carry out its constitutional and statutory duties and
3-8 purposes.
3-9 Sec. 55.1722. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM. (a) In
3-10 addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
3-11 board of regents of The University of Texas System may acquire,
3-12 purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property,
3-13 buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure
3-14 for the following institutions to be financed by the issuance of
3-15 bonds in accordance with this subchapter, including bonds issued in
3-16 accordance with its systemwide revenue financing program and
3-17 secured as provided by that program in aggregate principal amounts
3-18 not to exceed the following amounts:
3-19 (1) The University of Texas at Arlington, $40.7
3-20 million;
3-21 (2) The University of Texas at Brownsville, $50
3-22 million;
3-23 (3) The University of Texas at Dallas, $6.4 million;
3-24 (4) The University of Texas at El Paso, $20 million;
3-25 (5) The University of Texas--Pan American, $42.08
3-26 million;
3-27 (6) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin,
4-1 $37.2 million;
4-2 (7) The University of Texas at San Antonio, $104.7
4-3 million; and
4-4 (8) The University of Texas at Tyler, $12.7 million.
4-5 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
4-6 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of an institution,
4-7 branch, or entity of The University of Texas System, including
4-8 student tuition charges required or authorized by law to be imposed
4-9 on students enrolled at an institution, branch, or entity of The
4-10 University of Texas System. The amount of a pledge made under this
4-11 subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
4-12 which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
4-13 are outstanding.
4-14 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
4-15 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
4-16 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The University
4-17 of Texas System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
4-18 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
4-19 entity to carry out its constitutional and statutory duties and
4-20 purposes.
4-21 Sec. 55.1723. THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM. (a) In
4-22 addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
4-23 board of regents of the University of Houston System may acquire,
4-24 purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property,
4-25 buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure
4-26 for the University of Houston--Downtown to be financed by the
4-27 issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
5-1 accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
5-2 the board in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $8.2
5-3 million.
5-4 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
5-5 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of an institution,
5-6 branch, or entity of the University of Houston System, including
5-7 student tuition charges required or authorized by law to be imposed
5-8 on students enrolled at an institution, branch, or entity of the
5-9 University of Houston System. The amount of a pledge made under
5-10 this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
5-11 which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
5-12 are outstanding.
5-13 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
5-14 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
5-15 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the University
5-16 of Houston System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
5-17 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
5-18 entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
5-19 Sec. 55.1724. TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) In
5-20 addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
5-21 board of regents of the Texas State University System may acquire,
5-22 purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property,
5-23 buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure
5-24 for the following institutions to be financed by the issuance of
5-25 bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a
5-26 systemwide revenue financing program adopted by the board in
5-27 aggregate principal amounts not to exceed the following:
6-1 (1) Angelo State University, $22.06 million;
6-2 (2) Lamar University--Beaumont, $8.4 million;
6-3 (3) Lamar University Institute of Technology, $2.75
6-4 million;
6-5 (4) Lamar University--Orange, $4.6 million;
6-6 (5) Lamar University--Port Arthur, $3.16 million;
6-7 (6) Sam Houston State University, $8.97 million;
6-8 (7) Southwest Texas State University, $21.7 million;
6-9 and
6-10 (8) Sul Ross State University, $6.69 million.
6-11 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
6-12 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of an institution,
6-13 branch, or entity of the Texas State University System, including
6-14 student tuition charges required or authorized by law to be imposed
6-15 on students enrolled at an institution, branch, or entity of the
6-16 Texas State University System. The amount of a pledge made under
6-17 this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
6-18 which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
6-19 are outstanding.
6-20 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
6-21 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
6-22 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas State
6-23 University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
6-24 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
6-25 entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
6-26 Sec. 55.1725. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS AND UNIVERSITY OF
6-27 NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH. (a) The board of
7-1 regents of the University of North Texas may acquire, purchase,
7-2 construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property,
7-3 buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure
7-4 for the University of North Texas or the University of North Texas
7-5 Health Science Center at Fort Worth to be financed by the issuance
7-6 of bonds in accordance with this subchapter in the aggregate
7-7 principal amounts not to exceed $24 million for the University of
7-8 North Texas and $23 million for the University of North Texas
7-9 Health Science Center at Fort Worth.
7-10 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
7-11 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of the University of
7-12 North Texas or the University of North Texas Health Science Center
7-13 at Fort Worth, including student tuition charges required or
7-14 authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at the
7-15 University of North Texas or the University of North Texas Health
7-16 Science Center at Fort Worth. The amount of a pledge made under
7-17 this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
7-18 which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
7-19 are outstanding.
7-20 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
7-21 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
7-22 funds between the University of North Texas and the University of
7-23 North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth to ensure the most
7-24 equitable and efficient allocation of available resources for the
7-25 University of North Texas and the University of North Texas Health
7-26 Science Center at Fort Worth to carry out their duties and
7-27 purposes.
8-1 Sec. 55.1726. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY. (a) The board of
8-2 regents of Texas Woman's University may acquire, purchase,
8-3 construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property,
8-4 buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure
8-5 for Texas Woman's University to be financed by the issuance of
8-6 bonds in accordance with this subchapter in the aggregate principal
8-7 amount not to exceed $10.1 million.
8-8 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
8-9 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of Texas Woman's
8-10 University, including student tuition charges required or
8-11 authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at Texas
8-12 Woman's University. The amount of a pledge made under this
8-13 subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
8-14 which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
8-15 are outstanding.
8-16 Sec. 55.1727. MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY. (a) The board
8-17 of regents of Midwestern State University may acquire, purchase,
8-18 construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property,
8-19 buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure
8-20 for Midwestern State University to be financed by the issuance of
8-21 bonds in accordance with this subchapter in the aggregate principal
8-22 amount not to exceed $15 million.
8-23 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
8-24 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of Midwestern State
8-25 University, including student tuition charges required or
8-26 authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at Midwestern
8-27 State University. The amount of a pledge made under this
9-1 subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
9-2 which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
9-3 are outstanding.
9-4 Sec. 55.1728. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY. (a) The
9-5 board of regents of Stephen F. Austin State University may acquire,
9-6 purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property,
9-7 buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure
9-8 for Stephen F. Austin State University to be financed by the
9-9 issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter in the
9-10 aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10 million.
9-11 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
9-12 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of Stephen F. Austin
9-13 State University, including student tuition charges required or
9-14 authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at Stephen F.
9-15 Austin State University. The amount of a pledge made under this
9-16 subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for
9-17 which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds,
9-18 are outstanding.
9-19 SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is
9-20 amended by adding Section 55.174 to read as follows:
9-21 Sec. 55.174. TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. (a) In addition to
9-22 other authority granted by this subchapter, the board of regents of
9-23 Texas Southern University may acquire, purchase, construct,
9-24 improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property, buildings,
9-25 structures, facilities, roads, or related infrastructure for Texas
9-26 Southern University to be financed by the issuance of bonds in
9-27 accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a revenue
10-1 financing program adopted by the board in an aggregate principal
10-2 amount not to exceed $20 million.
10-3 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
10-4 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of Texas Southern
10-5 University, including student tuition charges required or
10-6 authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at the
10-7 university. The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may
10-8 not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is
10-9 made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.
10-10 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
10-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
10-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
10-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
10-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
10-15 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
10-16 passage, and it is so enacted.