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.