By: Madla, et al. S.B. No. 800
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of Texas A&M University--San Antonio
and Texas A&M University--Central Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 87, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter K to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY--SAN ANTONIO
Sec. 87.841. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY--SAN ANTONIO. (a) Texas
A&M University--San Antonio is a general academic teaching
institution located in Bexar County. The university is a component
institution of The Texas A&M University System and is under the
management and control of the board of regents of The Texas A&M
University System.
(b) The board may prescribe courses leading to such
customary degrees as are offered at leading American universities
and may award those degrees. Those degrees may include
baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees in all fields of
study, including professional degrees. No department, school, or
degree program may be instituted except with the prior approval of
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
(c) The board also has the same powers and duties concerning
Texas A&M University--San Antonio as are conferred on the board by
statute concerning Texas A&M University.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,
Texas A&M University--San Antonio may not operate as a general
academic teaching institution until the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board certifies that enrollment at the Texas A&M
University--Kingsville System Center--San Antonio has reached an
enrollment equivalent of 2,500 full-time students for one semester.
SECTION 2. Chapter 87, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter L to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER L. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY--CENTRAL TEXAS
Sec. 87.861. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY--CENTRAL TEXAS.
(a) Texas A&M University--Central Texas is a general academic
teaching institution located in Bell County. The university is a
component institution of The Texas A&M University System and is
under the management and control of the board of regents of The
Texas A&M University System.
(b) The board may prescribe courses leading to such
customary degrees as are offered at leading American universities
and may award those degrees. Those degrees may include
baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees in all fields of
study, including professional degrees. No department, school, or
degree program may be instituted except with the prior approval of
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
(c) The board also has the same powers and duties concerning
Texas A&M University--Central Texas as are conferred on the board
by statute concerning Texas A&M University.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,
Texas A&M University--Central Texas may not operate as a general
academic teaching institution until the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board certifies that enrollment at the Tarleton State
University System Center--Central Texas in Killeen has reached an
enrollment equivalent of 2,500 full-time students for one semester.
SECTION 3. Section 61.056, Education Code, does not apply
to this Act. This Act does not affect the authority of the board of
regents of The Texas A&M University System to operate a system
center or branch campus of any component institution of The Texas
A&M University System in Bexar County or Bell County.
SECTION 4. Subchapter J, Chapter 87, Education Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 5. It is the intent of the legislature that the
board of regents of The Texas A&M University System consult with
existing general academic teaching institutions and community
colleges in the Central Texas area as well as local governments and
community leaders prior to a decision by the board to offer
lower-division courses at Texas A&M University--Central Texas.
SECTION 6. In accordance with Subsection (c), Section 18,
Article VII, Texas Constitution, if this Act receives a vote of
two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, the
institutions created by this Act are entitled to participate in the
funding provided by Section 18, Article VII, Texas Constitution,
for The Texas A&M University System.
SECTION 7. 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.