By:  Patterson                               S.B. No. 1219

         97S0787/1                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the power of the board of regents of The Texas A&M

 1-2     University System to designate Texas A&M University at Galveston as

 1-3     a branch campus of Texas A&M University.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 87.201, Education Code,

 1-6     is amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (a)  Texas A&M University at Galveston is a special purpose

 1-8     institution of higher education for undergraduate instruction in

 1-9     marine and maritime studies in science, engineering, and business

1-10     and for research and public service related to the general field of

1-11     marine resources.  The institution is under the management and

1-12     control of the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System,

1-13     with degrees offered under the name and authority of Texas A&M

1-14     University at College Station.  The board of regents of The Texas

1-15     A&M University System shall have the authority to designate Texas

1-16     A&M University at Galveston as a branch of Texas A&M University;

1-17     however, such designation, if made, shall not change the role and

1-18     mission of Texas A&M University at Galveston as specified in this

1-19     section.

1-20           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-1     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.