S.B. No. 800
AN ACT
relating to the financing authority of and to the establishment of
certain general academic teaching institutions in The Texas A&M
University System.
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. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 55.1741 to read as follows:
Sec. 55.1741. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
REVENUE BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by
this subchapter, the board of regents of The Texas A&M University
System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
enlarge, or equip property, buildings, structures, or other
facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for The
Texas A&M University System Health Science Center to develop a
biosciences research center in the City of Temple, 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 $15 million.
(b) The board of regents may pledge irrevocably to the
payment of the bonds authorized by this section all or any part of
the revenue funds of an institution, branch, or entity of The Texas
A&M University System, including student tuition charges. The
amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or
abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds
issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.
(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board of
regents to meet its obligations under this section, the board may
transfer funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The
Texas A&M 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.
(d) If the Temple Health and Bioscience Economic
Development District is established, the district is responsible
for the payment of debt service on the bonds authorized by this
section for any facilities financed by the bonds that are located in
the district and used to support the purposes or programs of the
district.
(e) The legislature may not appropriate general revenue to
pay, or to reimburse the board of regents or Texas A&M University
for the payment of, debt service on bonds authorized by this
section.
SECTION 4. 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 5. Subchapter J, Chapter 87, Education Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 800 passed the Senate on
April 30, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 31, 2003, by the
following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 800 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 28, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 138,
Nays 0, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor