SRC-EPT S.J.R. 59 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.J.R. 59
78R8346 JSA-DBy: Brimer/Harris
Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education
4/9/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.J.R. 59 requires The University of Texas System board of
regents to apply a portion its two-thirds  interest in the available
university fund to the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds
and notes, including refunding bonds and notes for the benefit of The
University of Texas at Arlington. 

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 17, Article VII, Texas Constitution, by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: 
 
(b)  Requires the funds appropriated under Subsection (a) of this section
to be for the use of certain eligible agencies and institutions of higher
education (even though their names may be changed). 

(b-1)  Provides that the University of Texas at Arlington is not entitled
to participate in the funding provided by this section before the state
fiscal year that begins in 2005. 
 
SECTION 2.  Amends Section 18, Article VII, Texas Constitution, by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1)as follows: 
 
(b)  Deletes The University of Texas at Arlington from the list of
component institutions of the University of Texas System and makes
conforming changes.  
  
(b-1)  Requires the board of regents of The University of Texas System,
notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution, to apply a
portion of its two-thirds interest in the available university fund to the
payment of the principal of and interest on bonds and notes, including
refunding bonds and notes, issued under Subsection (b) of this section for
the benefit of The University of Texas at Arlington, without regard to
whether that university remains a component institution of The University
of Texas System, until those bonds and notes, and any refunding bonds or
notes for those bonds and notes, have been fully paid. 

SECTION 3.  Requires this proposed constitutional amendment to be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2003.
Requires the ballot to be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment to provide for the continuation
of funding for capital improvements and acquisitions at The University of
Texas at Arlington."