BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 629
81R4638 JRJ-D By: West
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
During the 79th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, H.B. 153 was enacted, authorizing the University of North Texas (UNT) System to issue tuition revenue bonds in the amount of $25 million for a "general academic building" at the UNT-Dallas Campus. That bill also created the requirement that the UNT-Dallas Campus reach an enrollment equivalent of 1,500 full-time students for one semester by January 1, 2010, for the UNT System to issue the UNT-Dallas Campus bonds.
In Spring 2009, the UNT-Dallas Campus surpassed an enrollment equivalent of 1,000 full-time students, which is the threshold required to become an independent institution. If funding is not released for a second building, the UNT-Dallas Campus will face a long-term space deficit and the lack of classroom space will jeopardize accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which requires an institution to have adequate physical resources to support its programs and services.
As proposed, S.B. 629 amends Section 55.1755(d), Education Code, to delete existing text providing that if the enrollment equivalent of 1,500 full-time students for one semester is not reached by January 1, 2010, the University of North Texas System's authority to issue bonds for the University of North Texas Dallas Campus expires on that date.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 55.1755(d), Education Code, to delete existing text providing that if the enrollment equivalent of 1,500 full-time students for one semester is not reached by January 1, 2010, the University of North Texas System's authority to issue bonds for the University of North Texas Dallas Campus under this section expires on that date.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.