By: Hegar S.B. No. 1165
(Miller of Fort Bend)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of real property by the University of
Houston--Sugar Land.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the transfer of real
property, on which the University of Houston--Sugar Land is now
located, to the University of Houston System by the Texas
Department of Transportation pursuant to Chapter 1243 (H.B. 1961),
Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, was made in the
public interest and continues to serve all public purposes of the
state listed in Subsection (a), Section 1 of Chapter 1243.
SECTION 2. The legislature finds that:
(1) the public purpose requirements placed on the
property transferred pursuant to Chapter 1243 are served if the
property is used for higher education purposes that encompass more
than strictly academic pursuits; and
(2) the language in Chapter 1243 that required the
property to be used "only for higher education purposes" is
misleading to the extent that it may be construed to imply that the
property is reserved for strictly academic pursuits.
SECTION 3. To clarify the intent of the legislature and in
accordance with the findings made by this Act, the ownership and
transfer documents for the property shall be amended to state that
the University of Houston--Sugar Land shall use the property "for
higher education purposes" consistent with the purposes of the
university.
SECTION 4. 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, 2013.