SRC-TBR S.B. 1567 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1567
By: Harris
Finance
3/20/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas does not have a fund specifically established to ensure
that Texas' workforce is properly trained.  As proposed, S.B. 1567
establishes the Emerging University excellence fund to provide funding to
promote increased research capacity and to develop institutional excellence
at eligible general academic teaching institutions in order to ensure that
Texas and its workforce remain at the forefront of scientific and
technological innovation. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Subchapter V, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER V.  EMERGING UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE FUND

Sec. 51.851.  PURPOSE.  Sets forth the purpose of the Emerging University
excellence fund. 

 Sec. 51.852.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "eligible comprehensive research
university." 

Sec. 51.853.  ADMINISTRATION.  (a)  Provides that the Emerging University
excellence fund is a fund outside the state treasury in the custody of the
comptroller. 

  (b)  Requires the comptroller to administer and invest the fund.

Sec. 51.854.  FUNDING.  (a)  Authorizes the legislature to appropriate or
provide for the transfer of any available money to the credit of the
Emerging University excellence fund. 
 
 (b)  Requires the comptroller to deposit all interest, dividends, and
other income earned from investment of the Emerging University excellence
fund to the credit of the fund. 
 
(c)  Authorizes the comptroller to accept gifts or grants from any public
or private source for the fund. 

(d)  Authorizes an institution to use money appropriated from the fund only
for the support and maintenance of educational and general activities,
including research and student services, that promote increased research
capacity and develop institutional excellence at the institution. 

(d)  Provides that Subsection (a) does not apply to the funding of the
Emerging University excellence fund for the state fiscal biennium ending
August 31, 2003. Requires that for each fiscal year in the state fiscal
biennium ending August 31, 2003, a  minimum of fifteen million dollars be
reallocated from the Capital Equity and Excellence Funds contained in the
General Appropriations Act.  Provides that this subsection expires January
1, 2004. 


Sec. 51.855.  APPROPRIATION AND ALLOCATION OF FUND TO ELIGIBLE
INSTITUTIONS.  (a)  Requires the legislature, in each state fiscal year, to
appropriate all or part of the money in the Emerging University excellence
fund to eligible comprehensive research universities and other eligible
general academic teaching institutions following certain guidelines. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.