By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 21

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.

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:

(A) $54 million for a nursing and health sciences building; and

(B) $54 million for a library and center for educational innovation and faculty development;

(2) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi:

(A) $120 million for a life sciences research and engineering building; and

(B) $50 million for an arts and media building;

(3) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $93 million for a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classroom building;

(4) Texas A&M University--Texarkana, $40 million for an academic and student service building;

(5) West Texas A&M University:

(A) $43 million for an agricultural sciences complex; and

(B) $10 million for the Amarillo Center Phase II;

(6) The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center:

(A) $80 million for a multidisciplinary research and education facility in Bryan, Texas; and

(B) $80 million for the A&M Baylor College of Dentistry facility in Dallas, Texas;

(7) Texas A&M International University:

(A) $62.1 million for library addition and renovation; and

(B) $66 million for repurpose of kinesiology building;

(8) Prairie View A&M University:

(A) $30,790,000 for a fabrication center and capital improvements; and

(B) $10 million for the Innovation Commercialization Center for Entrepreneurs facility;

(9) Tarleton State University:

(A) $55 million for the Southwest Metroplex Building; and

(B) $75 million for an applied sciences building;

(10) Texas A&M University:

(A) $85 million for a biocontainment research facility level 3; and

(B) $90 million for classroom building and renewal;

(11) Texas A&M University at Galveston, $92 million for expansion of instructional facilities, infrastructure and central plant;

(12) Texas A&M University--Central Texas, $40 million for multi-purpose building III; and

(13) Texas A&M University--San Antonio:

(A) $70 million for a science and technology academic building; and

(B) $16.5 million for central plant.

(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:

(A) $100 million for Welch Hall renovation; and

(B) $105 million for McCombs School of Business renovation;

(2) The University of Texas--Rio Grande Valley:

(A) $50.6 million for a multipurpose academic center;

(B) $45 million for coastal studies center facility;

(C) $42.5 million for interdisciplinary engineering and academic studies building;

(D) $50.4 million for fine arts and classroom building; and

(E) $54.7 million for student success and administrative building;

(3) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, $109.8 million for vivarium and aging research infrastructure reinvestment;

(4) The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, $114 million for facilities renewal and modernization;

(5) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, $70 million for a personalized cancer care building;

(6) The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, $67.8 million for a health education center;

(7) The University of Texas at Arlington:

(A) $190 million for science and engineering innovation research building; and

(B) $99 million for college of nursing and allied health professions academic and research building;

(8) The University of Texas at Dallas:

(A) $99 million for an engineering building; and

(B) $95 million for a science building;

(9) The University of Texas at El Paso:

(A) $117 million for an interdisciplinary research facility; and

(B) $94.5 million for college of business administration complex;

(10) The University of Texas at San Antonio:

(A) $95 million for instructional science and engineering building; and

(B) $42.5 million for the Flawn Science Building renovation;

(11) The University of Texas at Tyler, $76 million for a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics building expansion and renovation;

(12) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston:

(A) $123.9 million for the renovation and modernization of educational and research facilities; and

(B) $91 million for academic and research building;

(13) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, $15 million for facilities renewal and modernization; and

(14) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin:

(A) $60 million for a School of Engineering building; and

(B) $6,250,600 for a kinesiology and athletic training complex;

(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:

(A) $165 million for health and biomedical sciences center 2; and

(B) $91,350,000 for an academic building in Sugar Land, Texas;

(2) the University of Houston--Clear Lake:

(A) $120 million for a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and classroom building; and

(B) $34.2 million for a health sciences and classroom building;

(3) the University of Houston--Downtown, $108.7 million for a science and technology building; and

(4) the University of Houston--Victoria, $166 million for academic campus expansion and land acquisition.

(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, $72 million for a science and technology building;

(2) Lamar State College--Orange, $12.5 million for a multipurpose education building;

(3) Lamar State College--Port Arthur, $9.6 million for technology building expansion;

(4) Lamar Institute of Technology:

(A) $12.5 million for repair and renovation of the technical arts buildings; and

(B) $12.1 million for a student services learning support center;

(5) Texas State University:

(A) $67.5 million for a health professions building in Round Rock, Texas; and

(B) $107 million for an engineering and science building;

(6) Sam Houston State University, $60 million for a biology laboratory building; and

(7) Sul Ross State University:

(A) $7.8 million for renovation and modernization of educational facilities and infrastructure; and

(B) $8,452,000 for the Briscoe Administration Building renovation.

(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:

(A) $82.8 million for a college of visual arts and design facility; and

(B) $88.2 million for a science and technology research building;

(3) the University of North Texas at Dallas, $70 million for a student learning and success center; and

(4) the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, $96.8 million 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 an experiential learning and training building, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $37,997,000.

(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of 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 academic expansion and revitalization 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 $73 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 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 $58 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) $75,330,000 for Lubbock education, research, and technology facilities;

(B) $17,820,000 for the Permian Basin academic facility in Odessa, Texas; and

(C) $6,350,000 for the Amarillo Panhandle clinical/hospital simulation center in Amarillo, Texas;

(2) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso:

(A) $84,960,000 for the El Paso Medical Science Building II; and

(B) $30,960,000 for the El Paso Clinical Science Building;

(3) Texas Tech University:

(A) $87,930,000 for Experimental Science Building II; and

(B) $60,840,000 for College of Engineering expansion and renovation; and

(4) Angelo State University, $24,030,000 for a College of 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 $70,250,000.

(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of 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--Harlingen, $3,750,000 for engineering center expansion and renovation;

(2) Texas State Technical College--Marshall, $13.8 million for the North Texas technology building;

(3) Texas State Technical College--Waco, $14,950,000 for Fort Bend Technical Center Building Two; and

(4) Texas State Technical College--West Texas, $12 million for the Abilene Industrial Technology Center.

(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. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.