1-1 By: Uher (Senate Sponsor - Bivins) H.B. No. 1545
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 2, 2001;
1-3 April 3, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Education; April 18, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable
1-5 Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0;
1-6 April 18, 2001, sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1545 By: Bivins
1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-9 AN ACT
1-10 relating to the operation, regulation, administration, and
1-11 financing of public institutions of higher education.
1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-13 ARTICLE 1. PURCHASING
1-14 SECTION 1.01. Sections 51.9335(a)-(e), Education Code, are
1-15 amended to read as follows:
1-16 (a) An institution of higher education [A medical and dental
1-17 unit] may acquire goods or services by the method that provides the
1-18 best value to the institution [unit], including:
1-19 (1) competitive bidding;
1-20 (2) competitive sealed proposals;
1-21 (3) a catalogue purchase;
1-22 (4) a group purchasing program; or
1-23 (5) an open market contract.
1-24 (b) In determining what is the best value to an institution
1-25 of higher education [a medical and dental unit], the institution
1-26 [unit] shall consider:
1-27 (1) the purchase price;
1-28 (2) the reputation of the vendor and of the vendor's
1-29 goods or services;
1-30 (3) the quality of the vendor's goods or services;
1-31 (4) the extent to which the goods or services meet the
1-32 institution's [unit's] needs;
1-33 (5) the vendor's past relationship with the
1-34 institution [unit];
1-35 (6) the impact on the ability of the institution
1-36 [unit] to comply with laws and rules relating to historically
1-37 underutilized businesses and to the procurement of goods and
1-38 services from persons with disabilities;
1-39 (7) the total long-term cost to the institution [unit]
1-40 of acquiring the vendor's goods or services; [and]
1-41 (8) any other relevant factor that a private business
1-42 entity would consider in selecting a vendor; and
1-43 (9) the use of material in construction or repair to
1-44 real property that is not proprietary to a single vendor unless the
1-45 institution provides written justification in the request for bids
1-46 for use of the unique material specified.
1-47 (c) The state auditor may audit purchases of goods or
1-48 services by an institution of higher education or by a component of
1-49 an institution of higher education that purchases goods and
1-50 services [a medical and dental unit].
1-51 (d) To the extent of any conflict, this section prevails
1-52 over any other law, including Chapters 2155, 2156, 2157, 2158, 2167
1-53 and 2170, Government Code, except a law or rule relating to
1-54 contracting with historically underutilized businesses or relating
1-55 to the procurement of goods and services from persons with
1-56 disabilities. An institution of higher education may, but is not
1-57 required to, acquire goods or services as provided by Chapters
1-58 2155, 2156, 2157, 2158, 2167 and 2170, Government Code.
1-59 (e) In this section, "institution of higher education"
1-60 ["medical and dental unit"] has the meaning assigned by Section
1-61 61.003 and includes a school of veterinary medicine and a health
1-62 care facility operated by a medical and dental unit, except that
1-63 the term does not include The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
1-64 Cancer Center, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,
2-1 or a public junior college.
2-2 SECTION 1.02. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
2-3 amended by adding Section 51.966 to read as follows:
2-4 Sec. 51.966. INSURANCE COVERAGE. (a) The governing board
2-5 of an institution of higher education may purchase insurance
2-6 insuring the institution and its employees against any liability,
2-7 risk or exposure and covering the losses of any institutional
2-8 property.
2-9 (b) The governing board may pay the cost of any insurance
2-10 from any funds of the institution.
2-11 (c) As used in this section, "governing board" and
2-12 "institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by
2-13 Section 61.003 of this code.
2-14 SECTION 1.03. Subchapter B, Chapter 497, Government Code, is
2-15 amended by adding Section 497.0211 to read as follows:
2-16 Sec. 497.0211. EXCEPTION: INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
2-17 This subchapter does not apply to an institution of higher
2-18 education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
2-19 SECTION 1.04. Section 2155.067(b), Government Code, is
2-20 amended to read as follows:
2-21 (b) The agency head or the presiding officer of the agency's
2-22 governing body must sign the written justification. [For an
2-23 institution of higher education, the individual designated by the
2-24 president or governing body as purchasing officer for the
2-25 institution may sign the written justification.]
2-26 SECTION 1.05. Section 2155.268(a), Government Code, is
2-27 amended to read as follows:
2-28 (a) A state agency may not maintain and use its own bidders
2-29 list. The prohibition of this subsection does not apply to the
2-30 Texas Department of Transportation [or to an institution of higher
2-31 education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, but an
2-32 institution of higher education should use the master bidders list
2-33 when possible].
2-34 SECTION 1.06. Sections 2155.133, 2155.134, and 2155.135,
2-35 Government Code, are repealed.
2-36 ARTICLE 2. HUMAN RESOURCES
2-37 SECTION 2.01. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
2-38 amended by adding Section 51.961 to read as follows:
2-39 Sec. 51.961. LEAVE PROVISIONS FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF
2-40 UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) In this section:
2-41 (1) "Governing board," "medical and dental unit," and
2-42 "university system" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
2-43 (2) "Leave" includes vacation leave, sick leave, and
2-44 holidays.
2-45 (b) The governing board of a university system may adopt a
2-46 comprehensive leave policy that applies to employees working in a
2-47 hospital or clinic of a medical and dental unit of the university
2-48 system.
2-49 (c) A policy adopted under this section may combine
2-50 vacation, sick, and holiday leave into a paid leave system that
2-51 does not distinguish or separate the types of leave to be awarded
2-52 and may award leave in an amount determined by the governing board
2-53 to be appropriate and cost-effective.
2-54 (d) Chapters 661 and 662, Government Code, do not apply to
2-55 employees covered by a policy adopted under this section. The
2-56 policy must include provisions addressing the subject matter of
2-57 each subchapter of Chapters 661 and 662, Government Code, and the
2-58 intended effect of the policy on the rights, duties, and
2-59 responsibilities of employees and the employing entity under those
2-60 subchapters.
2-61 (e) A policy adopted under this section must include
2-62 provisions for:
2-63 (1) payment for accrued leave to:
2-64 (A) the estates or heirs of deceased employees;
2-65 (B) employees separating from the employing
2-66 entity; and
2-67 (C) contributing members of state retirement
2-68 systems who retire; and
2-69 (2) awards of accrued leave to employees separating
3-1 from the employing entity who are to be employed by other state
3-2 agencies or institutions of higher education.
3-3 (f) A policy authorized by this section may include other
3-4 matters as determined relevant and appropriate by the governing
3-5 board.
3-6 (g) A policy authorized by this section must be adopted by a
3-7 governing board in an open meeting of the board.
3-8 (h) Before implementing a policy adopted under this section,
3-9 the governing board shall make reasonable efforts to enter into a
3-10 memorandum of understanding with the office of the state auditor,
3-11 the Employees Retirement System of Texas, and the Texas Higher
3-12 Education Coordinating Board concerning awards of accrued leave for
3-13 the purposes of retirement and other issues of concern related to
3-14 the implementation of the policy.
3-15 (i) On or after September 15, 2005, the governing board of
3-16 an institution of higher education may adopt a leave policy as
3-17 provided by this section for employees of the institution.
3-18 SECTION 2.02. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
3-19 amended by adding Section 51.962 to read as follows:
3-20 Sec. 51.962. MERIT SALARY INCREASES. (a) An institution of
3-21 higher education as defined by Section 61.003 may grant merit
3-22 salary increases, including one-time merit payments, to employees
3-23 described by this section.
3-24 (b) A merit salary increase made under this section is
3-25 compensation for purposes of Chapter 659, Government Code, and
3-26 salary and wages and member compensation for purposes of Title 8,
3-27 Government Code.
3-28 (c) An institution of higher education may pay merit salary
3-29 increases under this section from any funds.
3-30 (d) Before awarding a merit salary increase under this
3-31 section, an institution of higher education must adopt criteria for
3-32 the granting of merit salary increases.
3-33 (e) To be eligible for a merit salary increase under this
3-34 section, an employee must have been employed by the institution of
3-35 higher education for the six months immediately preceding the
3-36 effective date of the increase and at least six months must have
3-37 elapsed since the employee's last merit salary increase.
3-38 SECTION 2.03. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
3-39 amended by adding Section 51.963 to read as follows:
3-40 Sec. 51.963. EMPLOYEE WITH MULTIPLE APPOINTMENTS. A
3-41 full-time employee of an institution of higher education as defined
3-42 by Section 61.003 who has appointments to more than one position at
3-43 the same institution may receive pay for working more than 40 hours
3-44 in a week if the institution determines that pay in lieu of
3-45 compensatory time is in the best interests of the institution.
3-46 SECTION 2.04. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
3-47 amended by adding Section 51.964 to read as follows:
3-48 Sec. 51.964. HIRING OF CERTAIN RETIREES. (a) An
3-49 institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003 may
3-50 employ a person who has retired under the Teacher Retirement System
3-51 (Subtitle C, Title 8, Government Code) or the optional retirement
3-52 program (Chapter 830, Government Code) if:
3-53 (1) the governing board of the institution determines
3-54 that the employment is in the best interests of the institution;
3-55 and
3-56 (2) the person has been retired for at least one
3-57 calendar year before the effective date of the employment, except
3-58 that a person retired under the optional retirement program may be
3-59 rehired after retirement without a break in service.
3-60 (b) The governing board may pay a person employed under this
3-61 section an amount considered by the governing board to be
3-62 appropriate, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
3-63 SECTION 2.05. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
3-64 amended by adding Section 51.965 to read as follows:
3-65 Sec. 51.965. EMPLOYEE NOTIFICATION. (a) If a state law
3-66 requires an institution of higher education as defined by Section
3-67 61.003 to provide written notification to its officers or employees
3-68 of any requirement, right, duty, or responsibility provided by
3-69 state law, the institution may provide the notification by use of
4-1 electronic media.
4-2 (b) An institution of higher education may adopt rules and
4-3 guidelines to ensure that notification provided by electronic media
4-4 under this section is effective and that any required notification
4-5 is provided to officers and employees who do not have access to
4-6 electronic media.
4-7 SECTION 2.06. Section 661.062(a), Government Code, is
4-8 amended to read as follows:
4-9 (a) A state employee who, at any time during the employee's
4-10 lifetime, has accrued six months of continuous state employment and
4-11 who resigns, is dismissed, or otherwise separates from state
4-12 employment by a state agency other than an institution of higher
4-13 education is entitled to be paid for the accrued balance of the
4-14 employee's vacation time as of the date of separation, if the
4-15 individual is not reemployed by the state in a position under which
4-16 the employee accrues vacation leave during the 30-day period
4-17 immediately following the date of separation from state employment.
4-18 A state employee who, at any time during the employee's lifetime,
4-19 has accrued six months of continuous state employment and who
4-20 resigns, is dismissed, or otherwise separates from state employment
4-21 by an institution of higher education is entitled to be paid for
4-22 the accrued balance of the employee's vacation time as of the date
4-23 of separation.
4-24 SECTION 2.07. The heading to Subchapter J, Chapter 659,
4-25 Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
4-26 SUBCHAPTER J. PAYROLL REDUCTION OR DEDUCTION FOR CERTAIN
4-27 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS [OF PARKING FEES AND PERMITS]
4-28 AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION
4-29 SECTION 2.08. Section 659.202, Government Code, is amended
4-30 to read as follows:
4-31 Sec. 659.202. PAYROLL REDUCTION OR DEDUCTION AUTHORIZED; USE
4-32 OF FUNDS. (a) An employee of an institution of higher education
4-33 may authorize in writing a reduction [deduction] each pay period
4-34 from the employee's salary or wage payment for the payment of any
4-35 fee or charge for parking, a parking permit, a transportation pass,
4-36 or other qualified transportation benefit authorized under Section
4-37 132(f), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended [parking fees
4-38 charged by the institution of higher education or for the purchase
4-39 of a parking permit from an institution of higher education]. An
4-40 authorization for a reduction [deduction] under this subchapter by
4-41 the employee must be [is] voluntary. The institution shall
4-42 determine which fee or charge an employee may pay under this
4-43 subsection.
4-44 (b) An employee of an institution of higher education may
4-45 authorize in writing a deduction each pay period from the
4-46 employee's salary or wage payment for the payment of any fee or
4-47 charge for parking or for a club membership, recreational sports
4-48 membership, or similar activity or program. An authorization for a
4-49 deduction under this subchapter by the employee must be voluntary.
4-50 The institution shall determine which fee or charge an employee may
4-51 pay under this subsection. [Funds collected under this section may
4-52 be used only to provide parking facilities for employees of the
4-53 institution.]
4-54 SECTION 2.09. Subchapter J, Chapter 659, Government Code, is
4-55 amended by adding Section 659.205 to read as follows:
4-56 Sec. 659.205. STATUS OF DEDUCTION OR SALARY REDUCTION.
4-57 (a) If so designated by the employing institution of higher
4-58 education, a salary deduction made by an employee under this
4-59 subchapter shall be considered compensation under this chapter and
4-60 salary and wages and member compensation under Title 8.
4-61 (b) If authorized by federal law, a salary deduction or
4-62 salary reduction under this subchapter may be made on a pretax
4-63 basis.
4-64 SECTION 2.10. Section 822.201(b), Government Code, is
4-65 amended to read as follows:
4-66 (b) "Salary and wages" as used in Subsection (a) means:
4-67 (1) normal periodic payments of money for service the
4-68 right to which accrues on a regular basis in proportion to the
4-69 service performed;
5-1 (2) amounts by which the member's salary is reduced
5-2 under a salary reduction agreement authorized by Chapter 610;
5-3 (3) amounts that would otherwise qualify as salary and
5-4 wages under Subdivision (1) but are not received directly by the
5-5 member pursuant to a good faith, voluntary written salary reduction
5-6 agreement in order to finance payments to a deferred compensation
5-7 or tax sheltered annuity program specifically authorized by state
5-8 law or to finance benefit options under a cafeteria plan qualifying
5-9 under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C.
5-10 Section 125), if:
5-11 (A) the program or benefit options are made
5-12 available to all employees of the employer; and
5-13 (B) the benefit options in the cafeteria plan
5-14 are limited to one or more options that provide deferred
5-15 compensation, group health and disability insurance, group term
5-16 life insurance, dependent care assistance programs, or group legal
5-17 services plans;
5-18 (4) performance pay awarded to an employee by a school
5-19 district as part of a total compensation plan approved by the board
5-20 of trustees of the district and meeting the requirements of
5-21 Subsection (e); [and]
5-22 (5) the benefit replacement pay a person earns under
5-23 Subchapter H, Chapter 659, as added by Chapter 417, Acts of the
5-24 74th Legislature, 1995, except as provided by Subsection (c); [and]
5-25 (6) stipends paid to teachers in accordance with
5-26 Section 21.410, Education Code;
5-27 (7) amounts by which the member's salary is reduced or
5-28 that are deducted from the member's salary as authorized by
5-29 Subchapter J, Chapter 659; and
5-30 (8) a merit salary increase made under Section 51.962,
5-31 Education Code.
5-32 SECTION 2.11. Section 658.001, Government Code is amended to
5-33 read as follows:
5-34 Sec. 658.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
5-35 (1) "Full-time state employee" means a person employed
5-36 by a state agency who, if not participating in a voluntary work
5-37 reduction program under Section 658.003, is required to work for
5-38 the agency not less than 40 hours a week.
5-39 (2) "State agency" means:
5-40 (A) a board, commission, department,
5-41 institution, office, or other agency in the executive branch of
5-42 state government that is created by the constitution or a statute
5-43 of this state, including an institution of higher education as
5-44 defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, other than a public
5-45 junior college; or
5-46 (B) the Supreme Court of Texas, the Texas Court
5-47 of Criminal Appeals, a court of appeals, or other agency in the
5-48 judicial branch.
5-49 SECTION 2.12. Section 659.002(b), Government Code, is
5-50 amended to read as follows:
5-51 (b) In this section "state agency" means"
5-52 (1) a board, commission, department, office, or other
5-53 agency that is in the executive branch of state government and that
5-54 was created by the constitution or a statute of this state,
5-55 including an institution of higher education as defined by Section
5-56 61.003, Education Code, other than a public junior college;
5-57 (2) the legislature or a legislative agency; or
5-58 (3) the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals,
5-59 a court of appeals, the state bar, or another state judicial
5-60 agency.
5-61 SECTION 2.13. Chapter 661, Government Code, is amended by
5-62 adding Section 661.915 to read as follows:
5-63 Sec. 661.915. APPLICABILITY TO JUNIOR COLLEGES. The
5-64 provisions of this chapter do not apply to a public junior college
5-65 as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
5-66 ARTICLE 3. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
5-67 SECTION 3.01. Section 74.103, Education Code, is amended to
5-68 read as follows:
5-69 Sec. 74.103. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may accept and
6-1 administer, on terms and conditions satisfactory to it, grants and
6-2 gifts tendered to it in aid of research and teaching at the medical
6-3 school. The board may also accept from the federal government or
6-4 any foundation, trust fund, corporation, or individual donations,
6-5 gifts, and grants, including real estate, buildings, libraries,
6-6 laboratories, apparatus, equipment, records, and leases, for the
6-7 exclusive use and benefit of the medical school. [Before
6-8 acceptance of gifts, grants, and donations of real property, the
6-9 board shall secure the opinion of the attorney general on the title
6-10 of the real property to be conveyed.]
6-11 SECTION 3.02. Section 74.153, Education Code, is amended to
6-12 read as follows:
6-13 Sec. 74.153. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may accept and
6-14 administer, on terms and conditions satisfactory to it, grants and
6-15 gifts tendered to it in aid of research and teaching at the medical
6-16 school. The board may also accept from the federal government, any
6-17 foundation, trust fund, corporation, or individual donations,
6-18 gifts, and grants, including real estate, buildings, libraries,
6-19 laboratories, apparatus, equipment, records, and money, for the
6-20 exclusive use and benefit of the medical school. [Before
6-21 acceptance of gifts, grants, and donations of real property, the
6-22 board shall secure the opinion of the attorney general on the title
6-23 of the real property to be conveyed.]
6-24 SECTION 3.03. Section 2251.026, Government Code, is amended
6-25 by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
6-26 (g) No interest accrues or may be paid under this section on
6-27 a payment if the total amount of interest that would otherwise have
6-28 accrued is equal to or less than $5 and the payment is made from
6-29 the institutional funds of an institution of higher education as
6-30 defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
6-31 SECTION 3.04. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51 of the Education
6-32 Code, is amended by adding Section 51.967 to read as follows:
6-33 Sec. 51.967. LIMITATION ON EDUCATIONAL DEBT. No statute of
6-34 limitations shall apply to a lawsuit, to the enforcement of a
6-35 judgment, or to any other legal action to collect an educational
6-36 debt owed to an institution of higher education or to the Texas
6-37 Higher Education Coordinating Board.
6-38 SECTION 3.05. The change in law made by this article to
6-39 Section 2251.026, Government Code, applies only to interest on a
6-40 payment by an institution of higher education that becomes overdue
6-41 under Chapter 2251, Government Code, on or after the effective date
6-42 of this Act. Interest on a payment by an institution of higher
6-43 education that becomes overdue under Chapter 2251, Government Code,
6-44 before that date is governed by Section 2251.026, Government Code,
6-45 as that section exists on the date the payment becomes overdue, and
6-46 the prior law is continued in effect for that purpose.
6-47 SECTION 3.06. Section 66.08(h), Education Code, is amended
6-48 to read as follows:
6-49 (h) The corporation:
6-50 (1) is subject to the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act
6-51 (Article 1396-1.01 et. seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); and
6-52 (2) is subject to the provisions of Chapter 551,
6-53 Government Code (the open meetings law) that apply to the board of
6-54 regents of the University of Texas System, except that the board of
6-55 directors of the corporation:
6-56 (A) may discuss an investment or potential
6-57 investment with one or more employees of the corporation or with a
6-58 third party to the extent permitted to the board of trustees of the
6-59 Texas growth fund under Section 551.075, Government Code; and
6-60 (B) is not subject to Section 551.121 or Section
6-61 551.125, Government Code, rather any director of the corporation
6-62 may attend any meeting of the board of directors by telephone
6-63 conference call provided that the telephone conference is audible
6-64 to the public at the meeting location specified in the notice of
6-65 the meeting during each part of the meeting that is required to be
6-66 open to the public.
6-67 ARTICLE 4. REPORTING
6-68 SECTION 4.01. Section 2166.101, Government Code, is amended
6-69 by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
7-1 (f) If information to be obtained from an institution of
7-2 higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, for
7-3 inclusion in the report is also included in another report to be
7-4 made by the institution of higher education to another state
7-5 agency, the commission, the agency receiving the other report, and
7-6 the institution of higher education shall enter into a memorandum
7-7 of understanding concerning the information to be reported in order
7-8 to enable the institution of higher education to provide the
7-9 required information in the most cost-effective manner taking into
7-10 account the costs to each affected agency. This subsection does
7-11 not limit the authority of the state auditor to request and receive
7-12 information directly from an institution of higher education.
7-13 SECTION 4.02. Section 2167.005, Government Code, is amended
7-14 by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
7-15 (c) If information to be included in the report is also
7-16 included in another report to be made by the institution of higher
7-17 education to another state agency, the commission, the agency
7-18 receiving the other report, and the institution of higher education
7-19 shall enter into a memorandum of understanding concerning the
7-20 information to be reported in order to enable the institution of
7-21 higher education to provide the required information in the most
7-22 cost-effective manner taking into account the costs to each
7-23 affected agency.
7-24 ARTICLE 5. STRATEGIC PLANNING
7-25 SECTION 5.01. Section 2056.001, Government Code, is amended
7-26 to read as follows:
7-27 Sec. 2056.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency"
7-28 means a department, board, commission, or other entity of state
7-29 government, other than [including] a university system or [and] an
7-30 institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003,
7-31 Education Code, that:
7-32 (1) has authority that is not limited to a
7-33 geographical portion of the state;
7-34 (2) was created by the constitution or a state statute
7-35 with an ongoing mission and responsibilities;
7-36 (3) is not the office of the governor or lieutenant
7-37 governor;
7-38 (4) is not within the judicial or legislative branch
7-39 of government; and
7-40 (5) is not a committee created under state law whose
7-41 primary function is to advise an agency[; and]
7-42 [(6) is not a state-funded junior or community
7-43 college].
7-44 ARTICLE 6. OTHER FINANCIAL MATTERS
7-45 SECTION 6.01. Subchapter E, Chapter 54, Education Code, is
7-46 amended by adding Section 54.5011 to read as follows:
7-47 Sec. 54.5011. CREDIT CARD FEES. (a) An institution of
7-48 higher education that accepts payment of tuition, a fee, or other
7-49 charge by credit card may charge the credit card user a fee for
7-50 processing the payment.
7-51 (b) A fee charged under this section may not exceed the
7-52 amount charged the institution by the issuer of the credit card in
7-53 connection with the payment.
7-54 (c) Before accepting a payment by credit card, the
7-55 institution shall notify the student of any fee to be charged under
7-56 this section.
7-57 SECTION 6.02. Section 54.010, Education Code, as added by
7-58 Chapter 1053, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999,
7-59 is repealed.
7-60 ARTICLE 7. EFFECTIVE DATE
7-61 SECTION 7.01. This Act takes effect immediately if it
7-62 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
7-63 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
7-64 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
7-65 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
7-66 * * * * *