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Texas Senate Bill SB150

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB150 Compare Versions

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11 By: Seliger S.B. No. 150
22 (In the Senate - Filed November 10, 2014; January 27, 2015,
33 read first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
44 April 7, 2015, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
55 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 1; April 7, 2015,
66 sent to printer.)
77 Click here to see the committee vote
88 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 150 By: Seliger
99
1010
1111 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1212 AN ACT
1313 relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to fund
1414 capital projects at public institutions of higher education.
1515 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1616 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is
1717 amended by adding Sections 55.1781, 55.1782, 55.1783, 55.1784,
1818 55.1785, 55.1786, 55.1787, 55.1788, 55.1789, 55.17891, and
1919 55.17892 to read as follows:
2020 Sec. 55.1781. THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
2121 BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
2222 subchapter, the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System
2323 may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or
2424 equip property and facilities, including roads and related
2525 infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of
2626 bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a
2727 systemwide revenue financing program adopted by the board for the
2828 following institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate
2929 principal amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
3030 (1) Texas A&M University--Commerce, $48 million for
3131 construction of a nursing and health sciences building;
3232 (2) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi, $60 million
3333 for construction of a life sciences research and engineering
3434 building;
3535 (3) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $60 million for
3636 an educational complex;
3737 (4) Texas A&M University--Texarkana, $32 million for
3838 construction of an academic and student services building;
3939 (5) West Texas A&M University:
4040 (A) $38,160,000 for construction of an
4141 agricultural sciences complex; and
4242 (B) $7,200,000 for renovation of the Amarillo
4343 Center;
4444 (6) The Texas A&M University System Health Science
4545 Center:
4646 (A) $72 million for construction of a dental
4747 clinic facility at the Baylor College of Dentistry; and
4848 (B) $66 million for construction of a
4949 multidisciplinary research and education facility in Bryan, Texas;
5050 (7) Texas A&M International University, $48,449,063
5151 for library renovation through the addition of instructional and
5252 support spaces;
5353 (8) Prairie View A&M University, $19,941,000 for
5454 construction of a fabrication center and capital improvements;
5555 (9) Tarleton State University:
5656 (A) $54 million for construction of an applied
5757 sciences building; and
5858 (B) $39,600,000 for construction of a southwest
5959 metroplex building in Tarrant County;
6060 (10) Texas A&M University, $71,875,000 for
6161 construction of a biocontainment research facility;
6262 (11) Texas A&M University at Galveston, $60 million
6363 for construction of a classroom and laboratory facility and campus
6464 infrastructure;
6565 (12) Texas A&M University--Central Texas, $36 million
6666 for construction of a multipurpose building; and
6767 (13) Texas A&M University--San Antonio, $57,750,000
6868 for construction of a science and technology building and campus
6969 infrastructure.
7070 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
7171 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
7272 an institution, branch, or entity of The Texas A&M University
7373 System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
7474 made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
7575 bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
7676 bonds, are outstanding.
7777 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
7878 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
7979 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The Texas A&M
8080 University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
8181 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
8282 entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
8383 Sec. 55.1782. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
8484 BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
8585 subchapter, the board of regents of The University of Texas System
8686 may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or
8787 equip property and facilities, including roads and related
8888 infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of
8989 bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a
9090 systemwide revenue financing program adopted by the board for the
9191 following institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate
9292 principal amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
9393 (1) The University of Texas at Austin, $73,750,000 for
9494 renovation of Robert A. Welch Hall;
9595 (2) The University of Texas--Rio Grande Valley:
9696 (A) $36,432,000 for construction of a
9797 multipurpose academic building at the campus in Brownsville; and
9898 (B) $30,600,000 for construction of an
9999 interdisciplinary engineering academic studies building at the
100100 campus in Edinburg;
101101 (3) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
102102 Center at Dallas, $73,750,000 for the construction and renovation
103103 of a vivarium and academic and laboratory facilities;
104104 (4) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
105105 San Antonio, $73,750,000 for facility renewal and renovation;
106106 (5) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
107107 Center, $61,250,000 for construction of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan
108108 Al Nahyan building;
109109 (6) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
110110 Galveston, $59,325,000 for construction of a health education
111111 center;
112112 (7) The University of Texas at Arlington, $70 million
113113 for construction of a science and education innovation and research
114114 building;
115115 (8) The University of Texas at Dallas, $70 million for
116116 construction of an engineering building;
117117 (9) The University of Texas at El Paso, $70 million for
118118 construction of an interdisciplinary research facility;
119119 (10) The University of Texas at San Antonio, $70
120120 million for construction of an instructional science and
121121 engineering building;
122122 (11) The University of Texas at Tyler, $60 million for
123123 construction of a STEM building;
124124 (12) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
125125 Houston, $73,750,000 for the renovation and modernization of
126126 educational and research facilities;
127127 (13) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
128128 Tyler, $14,800,000 for the renovation and modernization of
129129 educational and research facilities; and
130130 (14) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, $48
131131 million for construction of engineering and kinesiology buildings.
132132 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
133133 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
134134 an institution, branch, or entity of The University of Texas
135135 System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
136136 made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
137137 bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
138138 bonds, are outstanding.
139139 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
140140 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
141141 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The University
142142 of Texas System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
143143 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
144144 entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
145145 Sec. 55.1783. UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
146146 BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
147147 subchapter, the board of regents of the University of Houston
148148 System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
149149 enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
150150 related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
151151 issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
152152 accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
153153 the board for the following institutions or entities, not to exceed
154154 the following aggregate principal amounts for the projects
155155 specified, as follows:
156156 (1) the University of Houston:
157157 (A) $76,500,000 for construction of a health and
158158 biomedical sciences center; and
159159 (B) $54 million for construction of a new
160160 academic building located in Sugar Land, Texas;
161161 (2) the University of Houston--Clear Lake:
162162 (A) $24,624,000 for construction of a health
163163 sciences and classroom building located in Pearland, Texas; and
164164 (B) $65,025,000 for construction of a STEM and
165165 classroom building;
166166 (3) the University of Houston--Downtown, $60 million
167167 for construction of a science and technology building;
168168 (4) the University of Houston--Victoria, $60 million
169169 for academic expansion and land acquisition; and
170170 (5) the University of Houston System, $37,118,500 for
171171 land acquisition for construction of a building in the area near
172172 Katy, Texas.
173173 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
174174 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
175175 an institution, branch, or entity of the University of Houston
176176 System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
177177 made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
178178 bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
179179 bonds, are outstanding.
180180 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
181181 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
182182 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the University
183183 of Houston System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
184184 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
185185 entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
186186 Sec. 55.1784. TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
187187 BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
188188 subchapter, the board of regents of the Texas State University
189189 System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
190190 enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
191191 related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
192192 issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
193193 accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
194194 the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the
195195 following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified,
196196 as follows:
197197 (1) Lamar University, $60 million for construction of
198198 a science building;
199199 (2) Lamar State College--Orange, $10 million for
200200 construction of a multipurpose education building;
201201 (3) Lamar State College--Port Arthur, $8,080,000 for
202202 expansion of technology program facilities;
203203 (4) Lamar Institute of Technology, $12,500,000 for
204204 construction and renovation of technical arts buildings;
205205 (5) Texas State University:
206206 (A) $63 million for construction of an
207207 engineering and sciences building; and
208208 (B) $48,600,000 for construction of a health
209209 professions building in Round Rock, Texas;
210210 (6) Sam Houston State University, $48 million for
211211 construction of a biology laboratory building; and
212212 (7) Sul Ross State University, $6,240,000 for
213213 renovation and modernization of educational and related facilities
214214 and infrastructure.
215215 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
216216 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
217217 an institution, branch, or entity of the Texas State University
218218 System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
219219 made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
220220 bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
221221 bonds, are outstanding.
222222 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
223223 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
224224 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas State
225225 University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
226226 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
227227 entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
228228 Sec. 55.1785. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
229229 BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
230230 subchapter, the board of regents of the University of North Texas
231231 System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
232232 enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
233233 related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
234234 issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
235235 accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
236236 the board for the following institutions or entities, not to exceed
237237 the following aggregate principal amounts for the projects
238238 specified, as follows:
239239 (1) the University of North Texas System, $49 million
240240 for renovation of college of law buildings;
241241 (2) the University of North Texas, $70 million for
242242 construction and renovation of college of visual arts and design
243243 facilities;
244244 (3) the University of North Texas at Dallas,
245245 $57,750,000 for construction of a student learning and success
246246 center; and
247247 (4) the University of North Texas Health Science
248248 Center at Fort Worth, $73,750,000 for construction of an
249249 interdisciplinary research building.
250250 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
251251 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
252252 an institution, branch, or entity of the University of North Texas
253253 System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
254254 made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
255255 bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
256256 bonds, are outstanding.
257257 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
258258 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
259259 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the University
260260 of North Texas System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
261261 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
262262 entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
263263 Sec. 55.1786. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY. (a) In addition
264264 to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the board of
265265 regents of Texas Woman's University may acquire, purchase,
266266 construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property and
267267 facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for a
268268 laboratory building, to be financed through the issuance of bonds
269269 in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate
270270 principal amount of $37,997,000.
271271 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
272272 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
273273 Texas Woman's University, including student tuition charges. The
274274 amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or
275275 abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds
276276 issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.
277277 Sec. 55.1787. MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL
278278 BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
279279 subchapter, the board of regents of Midwestern State University may
280280 acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
281281 property and facilities, including roads and related
282282 infrastructure, for an academic expansion and revitalization
283283 project, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance
284284 with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount
285285 of $58,400,000.
286286 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
287287 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
288288 Midwestern State University, including student tuition charges.
289289 The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced
290290 or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds
291291 issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.
292292 Sec. 55.1788. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY. (a) In
293293 addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
294294 board of regents of Stephen F. Austin State University may acquire,
295295 purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property
296296 and facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for a
297297 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research
298298 building at Stephen F. Austin State University, to be financed
299299 through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter,
300300 not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $46,400,000.
301301 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
302302 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
303303 Stephen F. Austin State University, including student tuition
304304 charges. The amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not
305305 be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is
306306 made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.
307307 Sec. 55.1789. TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; ADDITIONAL
308308 BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
309309 subchapter, the board of regents of the Texas Tech University
310310 System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
311311 enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
312312 related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
313313 issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
314314 accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
315315 the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the
316316 following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified,
317317 as follows:
318318 (1) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center:
319319 (A) $60,264,000 for construction of Lubbock
320320 education, research, and technology facilities;
321321 (B) $12,830,400 for construction of the Permian
322322 Basin academic facility; and
323323 (C) $5,715,000 for construction of the Amarillo
324324 Panhandle Clinical/Hospital Simulation Center;
325325 (2) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El
326326 Paso, $71,860,000 for construction of the El Paso Medical Science
327327 Building II;
328328 (3) Texas Tech University, $70 million for
329329 construction of an experimental sciences high tech
330330 interdisciplinary research building; and
331331 (4) Angelo State University, $21,360,000 for
332332 construction of a College of Health and Human Services building.
333333 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
334334 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
335335 an institution, branch, or entity of the Texas Tech University
336336 System, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge
337337 made under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
338338 bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
339339 bonds, are outstanding.
340340 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
341341 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
342342 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas Tech
343343 University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
344344 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
345345 entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
346346 Sec. 55.17891. TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL
347347 BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
348348 subchapter, the board of regents of Texas Southern University may
349349 acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
350350 property and facilities, including roads and related
351351 infrastructure, for the Robert J. Terry Library at Texas Southern
352352 University, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in
353353 accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate
354354 principal amount of $60 million.
355355 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
356356 authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
357357 Texas Southern University, including student tuition charges. The
358358 amount of a pledge made under this subsection may not be reduced or
359359 abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds
360360 issued to refund those bonds, are outstanding.
361361 Sec. 55.17892. TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM.
362362 (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter,
363363 the board of regents of the Texas State Technical College System may
364364 acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
365365 property and facilities, including roads and related
366366 infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of
367367 bonds in accordance with this subchapter for the following
368368 institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate principal
369369 amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
370370 (1) Texas State Technical College--West Texas, $12
371371 million for construction of an industrial technology center;
372372 (2) Texas State Technical College--Harlingen,
373373 $3,750,000 for Phase II of the Engineering Technology Center
374374 renovation;
375375 (3) Texas State Technical College--Waco, $14,950,000
376376 for construction of the Fort Bend Campus Building #2; and
377377 (4) Texas State Technical College--Marshall,
378378 $11,040,000 for purchase and renovation of the North Texas
379379 Industrial Technology Center.
380380 (b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
381381 bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of an institution,
382382 branch, or entity of the Texas State Technical College System,
383383 including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge made
384384 under this subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the
385385 bonds for which the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those
386386 bonds, are outstanding.
387387 (c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
388388 meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
389389 funds among institutions, branches, and entities of the Texas State
390390 Technical College System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
391391 allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
392392 entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
393393 SECTION 2. This Act does not affect any authority or
394394 restriction regarding the activities that a public institution of
395395 higher education may conduct in connection with a facility financed
396396 by bonds authorized by this Act.
397397 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
398398 * * * * *