BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1077
By: Van de Putte
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Funding is requested to construct the Architecture Building at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) downtown campus (downtown campus) to meet future enrollment demands. This would be a multipurpose facility housing the School of Architecture with specialized teaching studios, administrative offices, faculty offices, and necessary support spaces. This building would also provide classrooms, specialized teaching laboratories, faculty offices, and related support spaces for other academic units. This project will require utility connections and a service connection to the existing below-grade service drive of the downtown campus.
In 1991, UTSA announced a major new initiative to significantly expand UTSA's downtown presence. This initiative was to include academic, research, and public service programs. That announcement led to the establishment of the downtown campus. The 150,000 gross square foot architecture building will provide an appropriate level of accommodations for the rapidly growing professional program in the School of Architecture, currently the second largest school of architecture in Texas. With its enrollment including 52 percent Hispanic students, the School of Architecture, utilizing the proposed building, will be able to continue providing access to professional education to a growing ethnic segment of Texas and the United States. The building will also respond to the space requirements, as designated by the two agencies that accredit the programs in the School of Architecture. The expected state-of-the-art facility would attract diverse and highly qualified faculty and more qualified graduate students, thus expanding critical research capabilities. It will also provide enrollments in all areas at UTSA and expand the presence of the downtown campus with the construction of the Architecture Building on the Cattleman's Square site.
As proposed, S.B. 1077 provides the necessary funding for the establishment of the Architecture Building at the downtown campus of UTSA.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, by adding Section 55.175, as follows:
Sec. 55.175. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL BONDS. (a) Authorizes the board of regents (board) of The University of Texas System (UT System), in addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, to acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property, buildings, structures, or other facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for The University of Texas at San Antonio, including the Downtown Campus Architecture Building, 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 the aggregate principal amount of $50 million.
(b) Authorizes the board to pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds authorized by Subsection (a) all or any part of the revenue funds of an institution, branch, or entity of the UT 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.
(c) Authorizes the board, if sufficient funds are not available to the board to meet its obligations under this section, to transfer funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the UT System to ensure the most equitable and efficient allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or entity to carry out its constitutional and statutory duties and purposes.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 61.0572(e), Education Code, to make a conforming change.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 61.058(b), Education Code, to make a conforming change.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.