BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 504

By: Ogden

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In 1993, The Texas A&M University System board of regents leased five acres to the Texas A&M Foundation for the purpose of constructing the Jon L. Hagler Center. Current law authorizes the board to lease to the foundation an area not to exceed five acres on the original main campus of Texas A&M University.

The Texas Department of Transportation is planning to construct a railroad bridge and pedestrian bridge separation at Wellborn Road and George Bush Drive in College Station. The grade separation will result in loss of property currently under lease to the foundation, reducing the current parking area. The foundation has requested an amendment to its ground lease to include an unused portion of the original main campus, which is west of the current ground lease. This unused area is approximately 1.9 acres after the loss of property to the grade separation at George Bush Drive and Wellborn Road. All other terms of the original 1993 lease will remain the same.

S.B. 504 authorizes the board to amend the ground lease with the foundation to increase the lease premises from not more than five acres to not more than eight acres. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 504 amends the Education Code to increase from a maximum of five acres to a maximum of eight acres the area on the original main campus The Texas A&M University System board of regents is authorized to lease to the Texas A&M Foundation for the foundation to construct and occupy a building for use consistent with the foundation's stated purposes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.