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.