By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1146
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds or other
obligations 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 55.1771, 55.1772, 55.1773, 55.1774,
55.1775, 55.1776, 55.1777, 55.1778, 55.1779, 55.1780, and 55.1781
to read as follows:
Sec. 55.1771. 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 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 and facilities not to exceed the following aggregate
principal amounts for the projects specified as follows:
(1) Tarleton State University:
(A) $53,000,000 for the renovation and
rehabilitation of the O.A. Grant Building, Joe Autry Agricultural
Building, and the Engineering Technology Building;
(B) $26,000,000 for a Student Success Center and
classroom building;
(C) $58,000,000 for a Special Events Center; and
(D) $29,000,000 for an Environmental and
Agribusiness Research Building.
(2) Texas A&M University-Commerce:
(A) $23,250,000 for renovation of the University
Library; and
(B) $11,250,000 for renovation of the Ferguson
Auditorium and Hall of Languages Building;
(3) Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi:
(A) $75 million for a life sciences building;
(B) $50 million for a fine arts center; and
(C) $31,000,000 for a Learning Resource Center
(4) Texas A&M University-Kingsville:
(A) $70 million for a performing and visual arts
educational complex; and
(B) $65 million for a natural
resources/agriculture academic complex;
(5) Texas A&M University-Texarkana, $46 million for a
classroom and office building;
(6) West Texas A&M University:
(A) $11 million for renovation of the engineering
program building;
(B) $15 million for a nursing and health sciences
building; and
(C) $13,000,000 for renovations for a Research
Facility
(7) The Texas A&M University System Health Science
Center:
(A) $200 million for Health Science Center
expansion in Bryan, Round Rock, and Temple, Texas; and
(B) $60 million for a Health Science Center
education and research building in Dallas, Texas;
(8) Prairie View A&M University:
(A) $65 million for a classroom building for the
College of Education and renovation of the current (Delco) building
for academic purposes; and
(B) $15 million for facilities renewal for
academic buildings;
(9) Texas A&M University, $95 million for facilities
renewal;
(10) Texas A&M University at Galveston, $46 million
for facilities renewal; and
(11) Texas A&M International University:
(A) $32,500,000 for an academic classroom
building; and
(B) $12 million for library expansion and a
support services building.
(12) Texas A&M System Centers:
(A) Texas A&M-Central Texas: $50,000,000 for a
new Classroom/Lab/Office Building
(B) Texas A&M-San Antonio: $60,000,000 for a new
Classroom/Lab/Office 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. 55.1772. 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 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:
(A) $31,000,000 for an Engineering Research
Building; and
(B) $60,000,000 for a Nanofab building;
(2) The University of Texas at Austin:
(A) $100,000,000 for Phase II of the Liberal Arts
building;
(B) $75,000,000 for the Battle Hall complex; and
(C) $150,000,000 for renovation of the core
campus;
(3) The University of Texas at Brownsville,
$63,000,000 for a Student Success Center;
(4) The University of Texas at Dallas, $140,000,000
for a Bio-engineering and Science building;
(5) The University of Texas at El Paso:
(A) $75,000,000 for the Honors and Student
Leadership Institute; and
(B) $80,000,000 for upgrade and renovation of
the fine arts center;
(6) The University of Texas-Pan American:
(A) $261,554 for the Starr County Upper-Level
Center;
(B) $1,734,798 for the fine arts academic and
performance complex;
(C) $40,000,000 College of Business
Administration renovation and expansion ; and
(D) $50,000,000 for a research facility addition
to the Science Complex;
(7) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin:
(A) $8,9000,000 for a science and technology
complex;
(B) $7,430,000 million for an arts convocation
and classroom facility at the CEED;
(C) $49,000,000 for an engineering building; and
(D) $12,000,000 for campus renovation;
(8) The University of Texas at San Antonio:
(A) $132,500,000 for an experimental science
instructional building;
(B) $80,000,000 for an information and
innovation library center; and
(C) $90,000,000 for a Multidimensional
Visualization Center
(9) The University of Texas at Tyler
(A) $46,000,000 for a Technology and Life
Sciences Building.
(10) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center at Dallas:
(A) $60 million for the finish out of north
campus (phase 5);and
(B) $50 million for south campus building
renovation;
(11) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston, $40,000,000 for an education building;
(12) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston:
(A) $11,000,000 for a replacement building for
The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston;
(B) $35,000,000 for a research park complex; and
(C) $35,000,000 for expansion of the School of
Public Health building;
(13) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio:
(A) $20,000,000 for the South Texas Research
Facility;
(B) $50,000,000 for an academic learning and
teaching center building; and
(C) $20,000,000 for facilities and technology
infrastructure upgrade;
(14) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center:
(A) $8,000,000 for the Center for Targeted
Therapy research building; and
(B) $75,000,000 for a Basic Science Research
Building II; and
(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. 55.1773. 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 facilities, including roads and related
infrastructure, for the following institutions, 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, in aggregate principal amounts not to exceed
the following:
(1) the University of Houston:
(A) $83,000,000 for a energy and wind research
building;
(B) $75,000,000 for a bio-life sciences research
building; and
(C) $27,000,000 for a multi-cultural studies and
classroom complex;
(2) the University of Houston--Clear Lake,
$68,600,000 for an academic enrichment and research facility;
(3) the University of Houston--Downtown, $51,429,000
for a science and technology building; and
(4) the University of Houston-Victoria, $30,500,000
for a health and kinesiology education 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. 55.1774. 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 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:
(A) $25,000,000 for a new science building;
(B) $15,000,000 for a facilities management
complex;
(C) $36,000,000 for renovation of academic
buildings;
(D) $15,000,000 for a new administration
services building;
(E) $5,000,000 for a new security and computing
center;
(F) $10,000,000 for Addition II to the Cherry
Engineering Building; and
(G) $2,000,000 for the land acquisition;
(2) Lamar State College-Orange:
(A) $3,600,000 for a workforce training center;
and
(B) $6,000,000 for a multi-purpose educational
building;
(3) Lamar State College-Port Arthur:
(A) $1,100,000 for an addition to the allied
health building; and
(B) $1,500,000 for Phase 1 of the Central Plant;
(4) Lamar Institute of Technology:
(A) $12,000,000 for a student services learning
support center; and
(B) $12,000,000 for the renovation of five
technical arts buildings;
(5) Texas State University-San Marcos:
(A) $52,000,000 for a recital hall and theater
center
(B) $73,366,977 for RRHEC-Health Professions #1;
(C) $79,425,175 for a music building;
(D) $24,849,899 for RRHEC-Health Professions #2;
and
(E) $33,075,242 for an engineering and sciences
building;
(6) Sam Houston State University:
(A) $37,000,000 for an integrated energy and
technology building;
(B) $30,000,000 for a nursing, allied health, and
biology building;
(C) $24,000,000 for the Texas Forensic Science
Building; and
(D) $20,000,000 for an agriculture complex and
academic building
(7) Sul Ross State University:
(A) $4,845,000 for the renovation of the
industrial technology building; and
(B) $1,500,000 for a student success 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
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. 55.1775. 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 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 and facilities not to exceed the following
aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified as follows:
(1) the University of North Texas System, $40,000,000
for a College of Law;
(2) the University of North Texas, $63,000,000 for a
College of Visual Arts and Design building; and
(3) the University of North Texas Dallas Campus,
$18,500,000 for a second building.
(4) the University of North Texas Health Sciences
Center. $90,000,000 for a new 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.
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the University of North
Texas System may not issue bonds under this section for facilities
at the University of North Texas Dallas Campus until the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board certifies that enrollment at
the University of North Texas Dallas Campus has reached an
enrollment equivalent of 1,500 full-time students for one semester.
If that enrollment is not reached by January 1, 2010, the system's
authority to issue bonds for the University of North Texas Dallas
Campus under this section expires on that date.
Sec. 55.1776. 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 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 and
facilities not to exceed the following aggregate principal amounts
for the projects specified as follows:
(1) $26,000,000 for a graduate research building;
(2) $17,500,000 for the renovation of the old main
building;
(3) $9,500,000 for a new academic support and
administrative support building; and
(4) $4,800,000 for infrastructure repair and upgrade.
(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. 55.1777. 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
facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for
projects at Midwestern State University, 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) $6,420,000 for Phase II of the renovation of the D.
L. Ligon Building; and
(2) $40,000,000 for the reconstruction of the Moffett
Library.
(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. 55.1778. 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
facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for a
molecular sciences 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
$46,000,000.
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
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. 55.1779. 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 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 not to
exceed the following aggregate principal amounts for the projects
specified as follows:
(1) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center:
(A) $72,000,000 for Lubbock
Education/Research/Technology and renovation;
(B) $58,500,000 for the EL Paso Medical Science
Building II;
(C) $27,000,000 for the El Paso Clinical Sciences
Building;
(D) $12,600,000 for the Permian Basin medical
education facility; and
(E) $14,850,000 for the Panhandle
clinical/hospital simulation center;
(2) Texas Tech University:
(A) $95,000,000 for the expansion and renovation
of the College of Engineering;
(B) $42,500,000 for a Plant and Soil Sciences
Building; and
(C) $45,000,000 for a performing arts center; and
(3) Angelo State University:
(A) $40,000,000 for the College of Nursing and
Allied Health;
(B) $35,000,000 for campus modernization and
expansion; and
(C) $42,325,000 for a Performing Arts 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
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. 55.1780. 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
facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for
projects at Texas Southern University, 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) $46,000,000 for renovation of the Robert J. Terry
Library;
(2) $9,450,000 for a Spearman technology building;
(3) $4,500,000 for Multi-purpose Academic Center;
(4) $30,000,000 for deferred maintenance;
(5) $5,000,000 for asbestos abatement and removal;
(6) $10,000,000 for campus
infrastructure/beautification; and
(7) $4,000,000 for land acquisition/Multi-Purpose
Academic 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. 55.1781. 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, buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or 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) Texas State Technical College-Harlingen,
$8,000,000 to construct an academic building;
(2) Texas State Technical College-Brownwood,
$3,000,000 to renovate an academic building;
(3) Texas State Technical College-Marshall,
$2,500,000 for a diesel equipment technology building; and
(4)Texas State Technical College-Waco:
(A) $10,000,000 for a learning services center;
and
(B) $5,000,000 for Phase II of the East
Williamson County Education 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. Section 61.0572(e), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(e) Approval of the board is not required to acquire real
property that is financed by bonds issued under Section 55.17(e)(3)
or (4), 55.1713-55.1718, 55.1721-55.1728, 55.1735(a)(1), 55.174,
55.1742, 55.1743, 55.1744, [or] 55.1751-55.17592, or
55.1771-55.1781, except that the board shall review all real
property to be financed by bonds issued under those sections to
determine whether the property meets the standards adopted by the
board for cost, efficiency, and space use. If the property does not
meet those standards, the board shall notify the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the Legislative Budget Board.
SECTION 3. Section 61.058(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) This section does not apply to construction, repair, or
rehabilitation financed by bonds issued under Section 55.17(e)(3)
or (4), 55.1713-55.1718, 55.1721-55.1728, 55.174, 55.1742,
55.1743, 55.1744 [or] 55.1751-55.17.592 , or 55.1771-55.1781,
except that the board shall review all construction, repair, or
rehabilitation to be financed by bonds issued under those sections
to determine whether the construction, rehabilitation, or repair
meets the standards adopted by board rule for cost, efficiency, and
space use. If the construction, rehabilitation, or repair does not
meet those standards, the board shall notify the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the Legislative Budget Board.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.