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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the board of regents of the Texas A&M |
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University System to construct, acquire, improve, extend, and equip |
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utility systems located on university system property. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 85.24, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 85.24. UTILITIES. (a) The board [from time to time] |
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may improve and equip existing [central] power plants and may |
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construct, acquire, improve, and equip steam plants and additions |
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to steam plants. For the purposes of this subsection, [them, and] |
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the board may acquire property [land for these purposes] for the |
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institutions under its control[,] when the total cost, type of |
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construction, capacity, and plans and specifications have been |
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approved by the board. As used in this subsection, "steam plants" |
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does not include electrical generating facilities, but "[central] |
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power plants" does include electrical generating facilities. |
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(b) The board [from time to time] may construct, extend, and |
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improve the water systems and [,] sewer systems[, or both,] for [any |
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or] all institutions under its control[,] when the total cost, type |
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of construction, capacity, and plans and specifications have been |
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approved by the board. |
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(c) The board may provide [furnish] water, sewer, steam, |
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power, electricity, or any combination [or all] of those services |
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from the [power and steam plant or] plants and other facilities |
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located at each institution to [any or] all [dormitories, kitchens |
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and dining halls, hospitals, student activity buildings, |
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gymnasiums, athletic buildings and stadiums, the dormitory for |
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help, laundry, and other] buildings or facilities that [may] have |
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been or may be constructed at each institution, and may determine |
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the amount to be charged as a part of the maintenance and operation |
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expense of those buildings or facilities for the service or |
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services. The board may allocate the cost of providing |
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[furnishing] the services to revenue-producing buildings and |
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facilities and to other buildings and facilities at the |
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institutions. The board may pledge the net revenues from the |
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amounts thus received for the services to pay the principal of and |
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interest on, and to create and maintain the reserve for, the |
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negotiable revenue bonds issued for the purpose of constructing, |
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acquiring, improving, extending, or equipping the power and steam |
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plants, or additions thereto, or other facilities, and may secure |
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the bonds additionally by pledging rentals, rates, charges, and |
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fees for the use or availability of all or any property, buildings, |
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structures, activities, operations, or facilities, of any nature, |
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which may be fixed and collected from all or any designated part of |
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the students enrolled in the institution or institutions or from |
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others in the amounts and in the manner determined and provided by |
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the board in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds. |
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(d) In addition to the authority granted to the board under |
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Subsections (a) and (b), the board may construct and acquire power |
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and steam plants, and additions to power and steam plants, located |
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on university system property in Brazos County and may acquire |
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water systems and sewer systems located on university system |
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property in Brazos County. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |