| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to fund |
|
|
capital projects at public institutions of higher education; making |
|
|
an appropriation. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Sections 55.1781, 55.1782, 55.1783, 55.1784, |
|
|
55.1785, 55.1786, 55.1787, 55.1788, 55.1789, 55.17891, and |
|
|
55.17892 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 55.1781. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL |
|
|
BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this |
|
|
subchapter, the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System |
|
|
may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or |
|
|
equip property and facilities, including roads and related |
|
|
infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of |
|
|
bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a |
|
|
systemwide revenue financing program adopted by the board for the |
|
|
following institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate |
|
|
principal amounts for the projects specified, as follows: |
|
|
(1) Texas A&M University--Commerce, $40 million for a |
|
|
library and technology center; |
|
|
(2) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi, $60 million |
|
|
for a life sciences research building; |
|
|
(3) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $33.6 million |
|
|
for music building expansion and renovation of Jones Auditorium; |
|
|
(4) Texas A&M University--Texarkana, $36.8 million |
|
|
for an academic and laboratory learning center; |
|
|
(5) West Texas A&M University, $12 million for the |
|
|
Amarillo Center; |
|
|
(6) The Texas A&M University System Health Science |
|
|
Center: |
|
|
(A) $7.2 million for facilities in Round Rock, |
|
|
Texas; |
|
|
(B) $36 million for a research building in |
|
|
Temple, Texas; and |
|
|
(C) $64 million for an education center and |
|
|
research building in Dallas, Texas; |
|
|
(7) Texas A&M International University, $41.6 million |
|
|
for library renovation, additional instructional spaces, and a |
|
|
support services building; |
|
|
(8) Prairie View A&M University, $12.8 million for |
|
|
critical deferred maintenance; |
|
|
(9) Tarleton State University: |
|
|
(A) $52 million for the Gates Agriculture and |
|
|
Business Building; and |
|
|
(B) $12 million for the Midlothian Higher |
|
|
Education Center; |
|
|
(10) Texas A&M University, $64 million for a |
|
|
biocontainment research facility; |
|
|
(11) Texas A&M University at Galveston, $36.8 million |
|
|
for an academic building; |
|
|
(12) Texas A&M University--Central Texas, $50 million |
|
|
for a science, health science, and wellness building; and |
|
|
(13) Texas A&M University--San Antonio, $70 million |
|
|
for a science and technology building. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
an institution, branch, or entity of The Texas A&M University |
|
|
System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge |
|
|
made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the |
|
|
bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those |
|
|
bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to |
|
|
meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer |
|
|
funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The Texas A&M |
|
|
University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient |
|
|
allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or |
|
|
entity to carry out its duties and purposes. |
|
|
Sec. 55.1782. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL |
|
|
BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this |
|
|
subchapter, the board of regents of The University of Texas System |
|
|
may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or |
|
|
equip property and facilities, including roads and related |
|
|
infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of |
|
|
bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a |
|
|
systemwide revenue financing program adopted by the board for the |
|
|
following institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate |
|
|
principal amounts for the projects specified, as follows: |
|
|
(1) The University of Texas at Austin, $95 million for |
|
|
an engineering education and research center; |
|
|
(2) The University of Texas at Brownsville or its |
|
|
successor university, $100 million for a new campus in Brownsville; |
|
|
(3) The University of Texas--Pan American, $78.4 |
|
|
million for Science Building II; |
|
|
(4) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical |
|
|
Center at Dallas, $60 million for north campus Phase VI vivarium and |
|
|
research facilities; |
|
|
(5) The University of Texas Health Science Center at |
|
|
San Antonio, $11.2 million for a South Texas diabetes institute and |
|
|
for an enhanced performance laboratory of the Barshop Institute for |
|
|
Longevity and Aging Studies; |
|
|
(6) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer |
|
|
Center, $50 million for a personalized cancer care building; |
|
|
(7) The University of Texas Medical Branch at |
|
|
Galveston, $40 million for a health education center; |
|
|
(8) The University of Texas at Arlington, $64.3 |
|
|
million for renovation of and addition to a life science building; |
|
|
(9) The University of Texas at Dallas, $76 million for |
|
|
an engineering building; |
|
|
(10) The University of Texas at El Paso, $88 million |
|
|
for an interdisciplinary research facility; |
|
|
(11) The University of Texas at San Antonio, $74.2 |
|
|
million for an experimental science instructional building; |
|
|
(12) The University of Texas at Tyler, $38.8 million |
|
|
for a STEM and business complex and renovation of the business |
|
|
building; |
|
|
(13) The University of Texas Health Science Center at |
|
|
Houston, $100 million for the renovation and modernization of |
|
|
educational and research facilities; |
|
|
(14) The University of Texas Health Science Center at |
|
|
Tyler, $4,804,000 for the Riter Center Primary Care Training Center |
|
|
renovation; and |
|
|
(15) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, $48 |
|
|
million for an engineering building. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
an institution, branch, or entity of The University of Texas |
|
|
System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge |
|
|
made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the |
|
|
bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those |
|
|
bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to |
|
|
meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer |
|
|
funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The University |
|
|
of Texas System to ensure the most equitable and efficient |
|
|
allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or |
|
|
entity to carry out its duties and purposes. |
|
|
Sec. 55.1783. UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL |
|
|
BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this |
|
|
subchapter, the board of regents of the University of Houston |
|
|
System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, |
|
|
enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and |
|
|
related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the |
|
|
issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in |
|
|
accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by |
|
|
the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the |
|
|
following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified, |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
(1) the University of Houston, $70 million for a |
|
|
pharmacy and biomedical sciences building; |
|
|
(2) the University of Houston--Clear Lake, $67.2 |
|
|
million for a science and academic support building; |
|
|
(3) the University of Houston--Downtown, $37.2 |
|
|
million for a science and technology building; and |
|
|
(4) the University of Houston--Victoria, $78,356,800 |
|
|
for campus expansion. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
an institution, branch, or entity of the University of Houston |
|
|
System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge |
|
|
made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the |
|
|
bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those |
|
|
bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to |
|
|
meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer |
|
|
funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the University |
|
|
of Houston System to ensure the most equitable and efficient |
|
|
allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or |
|
|
entity to carry out its duties and purposes. |
|
|
Sec. 55.1784. TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL |
|
|
BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this |
|
|
subchapter, the board of regents of the Texas State University |
|
|
System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, |
|
|
enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and |
|
|
related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the |
|
|
issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in |
|
|
accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by |
|
|
the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the |
|
|
following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified, |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
(1) Lamar University, $32 million for a science |
|
|
building; |
|
|
(2) Lamar State College--Orange, $14,222,400 for a |
|
|
multipurpose education building; |
|
|
(3) Lamar State College--Port Arthur, $2,180,000 for |
|
|
an addition to the allied health building; |
|
|
(4) Lamar Institute of Technology, $12 million for |
|
|
renovation and replacement of the technical arts buildings; |
|
|
(5) Texas State University--San Marcos: |
|
|
(A) $44.8 million for a medical education and |
|
|
research building in Round Rock, Texas; and |
|
|
(B) $73,265,729 for an engineering and science |
|
|
building; |
|
|
(6) Sam Houston State University, $31,720,000 for a |
|
|
biology, nursing, and allied health building; and |
|
|
(7) Sul Ross State University, $3.4 million for |
|
|
renovation and modernization of educational and related facilities |
|
|
and infrastructure. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
an institution, branch, or entity of the Texas State University |
|
|
System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge |
|
|
made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the |
|
|
bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those |
|
|
bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to |
|
|
meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer |
|
|
funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas State |
|
|
University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient |
|
|
allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or |
|
|
entity to carry out its duties and purposes. |
|
|
Sec. 55.1785. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL |
|
|
BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this |
|
|
subchapter, the board of regents of the University of North Texas |
|
|
System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, |
|
|
enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and |
|
|
related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the |
|
|
issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in |
|
|
accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by |
|
|
the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the |
|
|
following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified, |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
(1) the University of North Texas System, $56 million |
|
|
for college of law building renovations; |
|
|
(2) the University of North Texas, $73.6 million for a |
|
|
college of visual arts and design facility; |
|
|
(3) the University of North Texas at Dallas, $70 |
|
|
million for a library and student success center; and |
|
|
(4) the University of North Texas Health Science |
|
|
Center at Fort Worth, $66,600,000 for an interdisciplinary research |
|
|
building. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
an institution, branch, or entity of the University of North Texas |
|
|
System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge |
|
|
made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the |
|
|
bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those |
|
|
bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to |
|
|
meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer |
|
|
funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the University |
|
|
of North Texas System to ensure the most equitable and efficient |
|
|
allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or |
|
|
entity to carry out its duties and purposes. |
|
|
Sec. 55.1786. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY. (a) In addition to |
|
|
the other authority granted by this subchapter, the board of |
|
|
regents of Texas Woman's University may acquire, purchase, |
|
|
construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property and |
|
|
facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for a |
|
|
science and technology learning center, to be financed through the |
|
|
issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed |
|
|
the aggregate principal amount of $37,996,928. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
Texas Woman's University, including student tuition charges. The |
|
|
amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or |
|
|
abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds |
|
|
issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
Sec. 55.1787. MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL |
|
|
BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this |
|
|
subchapter, the board of regents of Midwestern State University may |
|
|
acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip |
|
|
property and facilities, including roads and related |
|
|
infrastructure, for library, College of Education, and information |
|
|
technology facilities at Midwestern State University, to be |
|
|
financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this |
|
|
subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of |
|
|
$23,992,000. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
Midwestern State University, including student tuition charges. |
|
|
The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced |
|
|
or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds |
|
|
issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
Sec. 55.1788. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY. (a) In |
|
|
addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the |
|
|
board of regents of Stephen F. Austin State University may acquire, |
|
|
purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property |
|
|
and facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for a |
|
|
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research |
|
|
building at Stephen F. Austin State University, to be financed |
|
|
through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, |
|
|
not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $40 million. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
Stephen F. Austin State University, including student tuition |
|
|
charges. The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not |
|
|
be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is |
|
|
made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
Sec. 55.1789. TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL |
|
|
BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this |
|
|
subchapter, the board of regents of the Texas Tech University |
|
|
System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, |
|
|
enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and |
|
|
related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the |
|
|
issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in |
|
|
accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by |
|
|
the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the |
|
|
following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified, |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
(1) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center: |
|
|
(A) $36 million for Lubbock education, research, |
|
|
and technology facilities; |
|
|
(B) $79.2 million for the El Paso Medical Science |
|
|
Building II; and |
|
|
(C) $15,120,000 for the Permian Basin academic |
|
|
facility; |
|
|
(2) Texas Tech University, $70.2 million for a |
|
|
research building; and |
|
|
(3) Angelo State University, $14,896,000 for a health |
|
|
and human services building. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
an institution, branch, or entity of the Texas Tech University |
|
|
System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge |
|
|
made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the |
|
|
bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those |
|
|
bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to |
|
|
meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer |
|
|
funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas Tech |
|
|
University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient |
|
|
allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or |
|
|
entity to carry out its duties and purposes. |
|
|
Sec. 55.17891. TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL |
|
|
BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this |
|
|
subchapter, the board of regents of Texas Southern University may |
|
|
acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip |
|
|
property and facilities, including roads and related |
|
|
infrastructure, for the Robert J. Terry Library at Texas Southern |
|
|
University, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in |
|
|
accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate |
|
|
principal amount of $52,814,129. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds |
|
|
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of |
|
|
Texas Southern University, including student tuition charges. The |
|
|
amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or |
|
|
abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds |
|
|
issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
Sec. 55.17892. TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM. (a) In |
|
|
addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the |
|
|
board of regents of the Texas State Technical College System may |
|
|
acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip |
|
|
property and facilities, including roads and related |
|
|
infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of |
|
|
bonds in accordance with this subchapter for the following |
|
|
institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate principal |
|
|
amounts for the projects specified, as follows: |
|
|
(1) Texas State Technical College System, $35 million |
|
|
for the Ellis County Extension Center; |
|
|
(2) Texas State Technical College--Harlingen, $2.4 |
|
|
million for Phase II of the Engineering Technology Center |
|
|
renovation; |
|
|
(3) Texas State Technical College--Marshall, $1.2 |
|
|
million for renovation of aviation technology facilities; and |
|
|
(4) Texas State Technical College--Waco, $5 million |
|
|
for water system infrastructure replacement. |
|
|
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those |
|
|
bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of an institution, |
|
|
branch, or entity of the Texas State Technical College System, |
|
|
including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge made |
|
|
under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the |
|
|
bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those |
|
|
bonds, are outstanding. |
|
|
(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to |
|
|
meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer |
|
|
funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas State |
|
|
Technical College System to ensure the most equitable and efficient |
|
|
allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or |
|
|
entity to carry out its duties and purposes. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act does not affect any authority or |
|
|
restriction regarding the activities that a public institution of |
|
|
higher education may conduct in connection with a facility financed |
|
|
by bonds authorized by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. (a) The amount of $175 million is appropriated |
|
|
out of the general revenue fund to the comptroller of public |
|
|
accounts for the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2015, for |
|
|
distribution to institutions of higher education and university |
|
|
systems for debt service on revenue bonds authorized by this Act. |
|
|
(b) The comptroller shall distribute a portion of the amount |
|
|
appropriated by Subsection (a) of this section to each institution |
|
|
of higher education or university system, as applicable, in |
|
|
accordance with calculations made by the Legislative Budget Board |
|
|
of each institution's or system's proportionate share of the amount |
|
|
appropriated based on the amount of revenue bonds authorized by |
|
|
this Act for each institution or system. |
|
|
(c) The Legislative Budget Board shall make the initial |
|
|
calculations under this section and notify the comptroller and the |
|
|
applicable institutions of higher education and university systems |
|
|
of the respective shares to be distributed under this section as |
|
|
soon as practicable. The Legislative Budget Board may make |
|
|
adjustments to those calculations and provide a final determination |
|
|
of those shares. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
|
|
last day of the legislative session. |