83S20326 JRJ-D
 
  By: Branch, Otto, Pitts, Giddings, Oliveira, H.B. No. 5
      et al.
 
 
 
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.