SRC-AMY S.B. 1297 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1297
By: Ogden
Subcommittee on Higher Education
6-5-2003
Enrolled
DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's plan for higher education,
Closing the Gaps, states that the number of students attending college in
central Texas will increase by 50,000 in the next 10 to 12 years.
Southwest Texas State University and The University of Texas at Austin are
moving toward slowing their growth.  Currently, the Round Rock Higher
Education Center (RRHEC), which includes Southwest Texas State University,
Austin Community College, and Temple College at Taylor, serves about 1,800
students and is expected to serve twice as many by 2005. RRHEC needs a
permanent campus and the capacity to meet the expanding educational needs
of one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Additionally, current
Williamson County residents have to drive either to Austin or San Marcos
to attend an institution of higher education.  S.B. 1297 authorizes the
board of regents of the Texas State University System to issue revenue
bonds, not to exceed $27 million, to finance a multi-institutional
facility in Williamson County.  This bill also authorizes the University
of North Texas System to issue bonds, up to a certain amount, to develop
the University of North Texas System Center at Dallas, which will become
the University of North Texas at Dallas. 

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 55.1735(a), Education Code, to include a
science building and development of the campus and facilities of the
University of North Texas System Center at Dallas at the location to
become the University of North Texas at Dallas, as a project for which the
board of regents of the University of North Texas System is authorized to
issue bonds up to a certain amount. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is amended by
adding Section 55.1744, as follows: 

Sec. 55.1744.  SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL BONDS. (a)
Authorizes the board of regents of the Texas State University System
(board), in addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, to
issue bonds in accordance with this subchapter, in the aggregate principal
amount not to exceed $27 million, to finance the acquisition, purchase,
construction, improvement, renovation, enlargement, or equipping of
property or related infrastructure for a multi-institutional education
center in Williamson County for Southwest Texas State University to offer
educational programs, support activities, and provide facilities for other
educational entities to further institutional efficiency and coordinate
educational programs. 

(b)  Authorizes the board to pledge irrevocably, to the payment of those
bonds, all or any part of the revenue of the Southwest 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. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 61.0572(e), Education Code, to include a
reference to Section 55.1744. 
 
SECTION 4.  Amends Section 61.058(b), Education Code, to include a
reference to Section 55.1744. 

SECTION 5.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.