By: Murphy H.B. No. 1530

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to fund capital projects at certain 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, 55.17991, and 55.17992 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) Prairie View A&M University, $24 million ;

(2) Tarleton State University, $52.8 million ;

(3) Texas A&M University, $100 million ;

(4) Texas A&M University--Central Texas, $20 million;

(5) Texas A&M University--Commerce, $58 million ;

(6) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi $37 million;

(7) Texas A&M University at Galveston, $18 million ;

(8) Texas A&M International University, $32 million ;

(9) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $28 million ;

(10) Texas A&M University--San Antonio, $30 million;

(11) Texas A&M University--Texarkana, $18.4 million ;

(12) West Texas A&M University, $26.3 million ;and

(13) The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, $56 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 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, $53.6 million;

(2) The University of Texas at Austin, $40 million ;

(3) The University of Texas at Dallas, $34 million ;

(4) The University of Texas at El Paso, $40 million;

(5) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, $ 28 million ;

(6) The University of Texas--Rio Grande Valley, $30.4 million ;

(7) The University of Texas at San Antonio, $64.5 million ;

(8) The University of Texas at Tyler, $ 30.4 million

;

(9) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, $54.4 million ;

(10) The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, $44 million ;

(11) The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, $66 million ;

(12) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, $200 million;

(13) The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, $ 43,679,085.60 ; and

(14) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, $221,567,008 .

(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 entity and institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified, as follows:

(1) the University of Houston System, $ 88.1 million

;

(2) the University of Houston, $ 89.7 million ;

(3) the University of Houston--Clear Lake, $ 44.4 million ;

(4) the University of Houston--Downtown, $ 34 million

; and

(5) the University of Houston--Victoria, $ 57,027,177.60 .

(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 University, $ 30 million ;

(2) Lamar State College--Orange, $16 million ;

(3) Lamar State College--Port Arthur, $22 million ;

(4) Lamar Institute of Technology, $ 20 million ;

(5) Sam Houston State University, $ 52 million ;

(6) Sul Ross State University, $ 14.1 million ;

(7) Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College, $17,694,000 million ; and

(8) Texas State University, $ 98 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 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, $ 84.4 million ;

(2) the University of North Texas at Dallas, $ 65.2 million ; and

(3) the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, $ 16.8 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 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 $ 43.2 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. 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 infrastructure upgrades, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $22 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. 55.1798. 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 a natural resources science and innovations laboratory, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $39.2 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. 55.1799. 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) Angelo State University, $ 16 million ;

(2) Texas Tech University, $32 millon ;

(3) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, $ 40 million .

(4) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, $72,480,000 .

(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of 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. 55.17991. 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 deferred maintenance for campus facilities, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $ 56.8 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 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. 55.17992. 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, $ 13.4 million ;

(2) Texas State Technical College--Fort Bend, $ 16,720,000 ;

(3) Texas State Technical College--Harlingen, $15,120,000 ;

(4) Texas State Technical College--Marshall, $6 million ;

(5) Texas State Technical College--North Texas, $5.4 million ;

(6) Texas State Technical College--Waco, $21,440,000 ; and

(7) Texas State Technical College--West Texas, $ 5.4 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 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 September 1, 2021.