SRC-AMY H.B. 2522 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2522 By: Krusee (Ogden) Education 5/20/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Southwest Texas State University Multi-Institution Teaching Center combines the efforts of Southwest Texas State University, Austin Community College, and Temple College at Taylor to offer educational opportunities to North Austin and Williamson County. The teaching center offers workforce training, short certificate programs, and bachelor's and master's degree programs. Currently, courses can only be offered at night because the only available classrooms are located in portable buildings at local high schools. Course offerings are also restricted due to lack of classroom space, which limits the continued growth and number of programs that can be offered. H.B. 2522 Authorizes the Texas State University System's board of regents to acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property, buildings, structures, or other facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for the Southwest Texas State University Multi-Institution Teaching Center, primarily to address the Central Texas high growth corridor as identified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This bill authorizes the projects to be financed by the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, including bonds issued in accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program and secured as provided by that program in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $26 million. H.B. 2522 sets forth the process for issuing bonds for this purpose. 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 Section 55.1734, Education Code, adding Subsection (e), as follows: (e)(1) Authorizes the board of regents of the Texas State University System (board), in addition to the other authority granted by this chapter, to acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property, buildings, structures, or other facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for the Southwest Texas State University Multi-Institution Teaching Center, to be used primarily to construct facilities to address the Central Texas high growth corridor as identified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to be financed by the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, including bonds issued in accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program and secured as provided by that program in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $26 million. (2) Authorizes the board to pledge irrevocably to the payment of the bonds authorized by Subsection (1), all or any part of the revenue funds of an institution, branch or entity of the Texas State University System, including student tuition charges. Prohibits the amount of a pledge made under this subsection from being reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding. (3) Authorizes the board, if sufficient funds are not available to the board to meet its obligations under this section, to transfer funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas State University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or entity to carry out its duties and purposes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 61.0572(e), Education Code, to include a reference to 55.1734(e). SECTION 3. Section 61.058(b), Education Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.