87S30599 MM-D
 
  By: Murphy H.B. No. 173
 
 
 
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 55.1791, 55.1792, 55.1793, 55.1794,
  55.1795, 55.1796, 55.1797, 55.1798, 55.1799, and 55.17991 to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 55.1791.  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)  Tarleton State University, $63 million for
  construction of a College of Health Sciences and Human Services
  building;
               (2)  Texas A&M University, $175 million for
  construction of a veterinary clinical research building;
               (3)  Texas A&M University--Commerce, $95 million for
  construction of an agricultural education and research complex;
               (4)  Texas A&M University at Galveston, $40.5 million
  for construction of an engineering classroom and research building;
               (5)  Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $60 million to
  address deferred maintenance;
               (6)  West Texas A&M University, $33,353,000 for repairs
  and renovations to nine buildings to address health and safety
  issues identified in the state fire marshal's report; and
               (7)  The Texas A&M University System Health Science
  Center:
                     (A)  $90 million for construction of the Texas
  Medical Center Building 3 in Houston, Texas; and
                     (B)  $36 million for construction of a nursing
  education and research center in McAllen, Texas.
         (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. 55.1792.  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 Arlington, $120,600,000
  for renovation of the Life Science Building;
               (2)  The University of Texas at Austin, $90 million for
  renovation of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Building;
               (3)  The University of Texas at Dallas, $76.5 million
  for construction of a student success center;
               (4)  The University of Texas Permian Basin, $63 million
  for renovation of the Mesa Building and campus transformation;
               (5)  The University of Texas--Rio Grande Valley,
  $68,400,000 for construction of a health affairs building;
               (6)  The University of Texas at Tyler, $68,400,000 for
  construction of a sciences building;
               (7)  The University of Texas Health Science Center at
  Houston, $90 million for construction of a public health education
  and research building;
               (8)  The University of Texas Health Science Center at
  San Antonio, $99 million for construction of the Institute for
  Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases Building;
               (9)  The University of Texas Health Science Center at
  Tyler, $63 million for construction of a health professions
  education center;
               (10)  The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
  Center, $90 million for construction of a life sciences research,
  innovation, and discovery initiative facility; and
               (11)  The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
  Center at Dallas, $90,144,468 for construction of the north campus
  Phase VI Brain Institute shell space.
         (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. 55.1793.  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 System, $92,250,000 for
  construction of the Katy Academic Building 2;
               (2)  the University of Houston, $39,513,206 for
  renovation of the Hobby School of Public Affairs Building;
               (3)  the University of Houston--Victoria:
                     (A)  $33,825,000 for construction of a health
  science building; and
                     (B)  $39,975,000 for construction of an
  engineering facility; and
               (4)  the University of Houston--Downtown, $10 million
  for the construction of the Police Department and Criminal Justice
  Academy 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 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. 55.1794.  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 State College--Orange, $42 million for the
  replacement of an academic building to house general academic
  instruction and information technology services;
               (2)  Lamar State College--Port Arthur, $55 million for
  construction of an allied health and sciences building;
               (3)  Lamar Institute of Technology, $48 million for
  construction of a facility for workforce and allied health
  programs; and
               (4)  Texas State University, $88 million for
  construction of a health professions building located in Round
  Rock, Texas.
         (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. 55.1795.  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: 
                     (A)  $126 million for construction of a science
  and technology research building; and
                     (B)  $85 million for construction of a commerce,
  analytics, technology, and engineering building in Frisco, Texas;
               (2)  the University of North Texas at Dallas, $163
  million for construction of a science building; and
               (3)  the University of North Texas Health Science
  Center at Fort Worth, $42 million for renovation of four buildings.
         (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. 55.1796.  TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL BONDS.
  (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
  health sciences center, to be financed through the issuance of
  bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the
  aggregate principal amount of $108 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
  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. 55.1797.  STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY;
  ADDITIONAL BONDS. (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  demolition of the Miller Science
  Building, renovation of the Forestry Building, and construction of
  a new addition, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in
  accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate
  principal amount of $53 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. 55.1798.  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, $72 million for renovations
  and maintenance for campus buildings;
               (2)  Midwestern State University, $41 million for
  renovation of an existing building;
               (3)  Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, $90
  million for maintenance and renovation of an existing facility; and
               (4)  Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El
  Paso, $163,080,000 for construction of a dental school 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. 55.1799.  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
  projects to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance
  with this subchapter, not to exceed the following aggregate
  principal amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
               (1)  $22,800,000 for renovation of an existing research
  labs building; and
               (2)  $59 million for construction of a student housing
  and multipurpose conference center.
         (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. 55.17991.  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 entity
  and institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate principal
  amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
               (1)  Texas State Technical College System, $33,300,000
  for the East Williamson County Higher Education Center expansion;
               (2)  Texas State Technical College--Fort Bend,
  $41,800,000 for Fort Bend County campus expansion; and
               (3)  Texas State Technical College--Harlingen,
  $37,800,000 for Harlingen 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 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 on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.