S.B. 1297 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 1297
By: Ogden
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 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. SB 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

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

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.


EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of
all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article
III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary
for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.