By: Duncan, Lucio S.J.R. No. 61

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing a constitutional amendment increasing dedicated funding for the major repair or rehabilitation of buildings and other permanent improvements of institutions of higher education that were not created as a part of The University of Texas System or The Texas A&M University System.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (i), Section 17, Article VII, Texas Constitution, are amended to read as follows:

(b) The funds appropriated under Subsection (a) of this section shall be for the use of the following eligible agencies and institutions of higher education (even though their names may be changed):

(1) [East Texas State University including East Texas State University at Texarkana;

[(2)] Lamar University including Lamar University at Orange and Lamar University at Port Arthur;

(2) [(3)] Midwestern State University;

(3) [(4)] University of North Texas;

(4) [(5)] The University of Texas--Pan American including The University of Texas at Brownsville;

(5) [(6)] Stephen F. Austin State University;

(6) [(7)] Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine;

(7) [(8)] Texas State University System Administration and the following component institutions:

(8) [(9)] Angelo State University;

(9) [(10)] Sam Houston State University;

(10) [(11)] Southwest Texas State University;

(11) [(12)] Sul Ross State University including Uvalde Study Center;

(12) [(13)] Texas Southern University;

(13) [(14)] Texas Tech University;

(14) [(15)] Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center;

(15) [(16)] Texas Woman's University;

(16) [(17)] University of Houston System Administration and the following component institutions:

(17) [(18)] University of Houston;

(18) [(19)] University of Houston--Victoria;

(19) [(20)] University of Houston--Clear Lake;

(20) [(21)] University of Houston--Downtown;

(21) [(22)] Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi;

(22) [(23)] Texas A&M International University;

(23) [(24)] Texas A&M University--Kingsville;

(24) Texas A&M University--Commerce;

(25) Texas A&M University--Texarkana;

(26) West Texas A&M University; and

(27) [(26)] Texas State Technical College System and its campuses, but not its extension centers or programs.

(i) The legislature by general law may dedicate portions of the state's revenues to the creation of a dedicated fund ("the higher education fund") for the purposes expressed in Subsection (a) of this section. The legislature shall provide for administration of the fund, which shall be invested in the manner provided for investment of the permanent university fund. The income from the investment of the higher education fund shall be credited to the higher education fund until such time as the fund totals $2 billion. The principal of the higher education fund shall never be expended. [At the beginning of the fiscal year after the fund reaches $2 billion, as certified by the comptroller of public accounts, the dedication of general revenue funds provided for in Subsection (a) of this section shall cease.] At the beginning of the fiscal year after the fund reaches $2 billion, and each year thereafter, 10 percent of the interest, dividends, and other income accruing from the investments of the higher education fund during the previous fiscal year shall be deposited and become part of the principal of the fund, and [out of] the remainder of the annual income from the investment of the principal of the fund [there] shall be appropriated and [an annual sum sufficient to pay the principal and interest due on the bonds and notes issued under this section and the balance of the income] shall be allocated and[,] distributed pursuant to an appropriate formula[,] and expended to address the major repair or rehabilitation of buildings, facilities, and other permanent improvements in addition to the amounts appropriated [as provided for the appropriations made] under Subsection (a).

SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2007. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment increasing dedicated funding for the major repair or rehabilitation of buildings and other permanent improvements of certain institutions of higher education that were not created as a part of The University of Texas System or The Texas A&M University System."