Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SJR26 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 01/06/2023

                            88R3845 KJE-D
 By: Perry S.J.R. No. 26


 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 proposing a constitutional amendment to entitle all component
 institutions of The Texas A&M University System and The University
 of Texas System to participate in the income and other benefits of
 the permanent university fund.
 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 18, Article VII, Texas Constitution, is
 amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection
 (a-1) to read as follows:
 (a)  The Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System
 may issue bonds and notes not to exceed a total amount of 10 percent
 of the cost value of the investments and other assets of the
 permanent university fund (exclusive of real estate) at the time of
 the issuance thereof, and may pledge all or any part of its
 one-third interest in the available university fund to secure the
 payment of the principal and interest of those bonds and notes, for
 the purpose of acquiring land either with or without permanent
 improvements, constructing and equipping buildings or other
 permanent improvements, major repair and rehabilitation of
 buildings and other permanent improvements, acquiring capital
 equipment and library books and library materials, and refunding
 bonds or notes issued under this Section or prior law, at or for The
 Texas A&M University System administration and all [the following]
 component institutions of the system[:
 [(1) Texas A&M University, including its medical
 college which the legislature may authorize as a separate medical
 institution;
 [(2) Prairie View A&M University, including its
 nursing school in Houston;
 [(3) Tarleton State University;
 [(4) Texas A&M University at Galveston;
 [(5) Texas Forest Service;
 [(6) Texas Agricultural Experiment Stations;
 [(7) Texas Agricultural Extension Service;
 [(8) Texas Engineering Experiment Stations;
 [(9) Texas Transportation Institute; and
 [(10) Texas Engineering Extension Service].
 (a-1)  In applying a portion of its one-third interest in the
 available university fund to the payment of the principal of and
 interest on bonds and notes issued under Subsection (a) of this
 section, the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System
 shall include sufficient funds to pay the principal of and interest
 on all bonds and notes, including refunding bonds and notes,
 previously issued for the benefit of component institutions of the
 system under Section 17(b) of this article.
 (b)  The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System
 may issue bonds and notes not to exceed a total amount of 20 percent
 of the cost value of investments and other assets of the permanent
 university fund (exclusive of real estate) at the time of issuance
 thereof, and may pledge all or any part of its two-thirds interest
 in the available university fund to secure the payment of the
 principal and interest of those bonds and notes, for the purpose of
 acquiring land either with or without permanent improvements,
 constructing and equipping buildings or other permanent
 improvements, major repair and rehabilitation of buildings and
 other permanent improvements, acquiring capital equipment and
 library books and library materials, and refunding bonds or notes
 issued under this section or prior law, at or for The University of
 Texas System administration and all [the following] component
 institutions of the system[:
 [(1)  The University of Texas at Arlington;
 [(2)  The University of Texas at Austin;
 [(3)  The University of Texas at Dallas;
 [(4)  The University of Texas at El Paso;
 [(5)  The University of Texas of the Permian Basin;
 [(6)  The University of Texas at San Antonio;
 [(7)  The University of Texas at Tyler;
 [(8)  The University of Texas Health Science Center at
 Dallas;
 [(9)  The University of Texas Medical Branch at
 Galveston;
 [(10)  The University of Texas Health Science Center at
 Houston;
 [(11)  The University of Texas Health Science Center at
 San Antonio;
 [(12)  The University of Texas System Cancer Center;
 [(13)  The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler;
 and
 [(14)  The University of Texas Institute of Texan
 Cultures at San Antonio].
 SECTION 2.  Section 17(b), Article VII, Texas Constitution,
 is amended to read as follows:
 (b)  The funds appropriated under Subsection (a) of this
 section shall be for the use of the following eligible agencies and
 institutions of higher education (even though their names may be
 changed):
 (1)  [East Texas State University including East Texas
 State University at Texarkana;
 [(2)]  Lamar University including Lamar State
 College—Orange [University at Orange] and Lamar State College—Port
 Arthur [University at Port Arthur];
 (2) [(3)]  Midwestern State University;
 (3) [(4)]  University of North Texas;
 (4) [(5)  The University of Texas--Pan American
 including The University of Texas at Brownsville;
 [(6)]  Stephen F. Austin State University;
 (5) [(7)]  Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine;
 (6) [(8)]  Texas State University System
 Administration and the following component institutions:
 (7) [(9)]  Sam Houston State University;
 (8) [(10)  Southwest] Texas State University;
 (9) [(11)]  Sul Ross State University including Rio
 Grande College [Uvalde Study Center];
 (10) [(12)]  Texas Southern University;
 (11) [(13)]  Texas Tech University;
 (12) [(14)]  Texas Tech University Health Sciences
 Center;
 (13) [(15)]  Angelo State University;
 (14) [(16)]  Texas Woman's University;
 (15) [(17)]  University of Houston System
 Administration and the following component institutions:
 (16) [(18)]  University of Houston;
 (17) [(19)]  University of Houston--Victoria;
 (18) [(20)]  University of Houston--Clear Lake;
 (19) [(21)]  University of Houston--Downtown; and
 (20) [(22)  Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi;
 [(23)  Texas A&M International University;
 [(24)  Texas A&M University--Kingsville;
 [(25)  West Texas A&M University; and
 [(26)]  Texas State Technical College System and its
 campuses, but not its extension centers or programs.
 SECTION 3.   Article VII, Texas Constitution, is amended by
 adding Section 17A to read as follows:
 Sec. 17A.  TEMPORARY PROVISION.  (a) The transfer of
 component institutions of The Texas A&M University System from
 Section 17 of this article to Section 18 of this article by the
 constitutional amendment proposed by the 88th Legislature, Regular
 Session, 2023, applies beginning with the state fiscal year that
 begins September 1, 2024.
 (b)  Beginning with the state fiscal year that begins
 September 1, 2024, the funds allocated as provided by Section 17(d)
 of this article to the component institutions of The Texas A&M
 University System shall be allocated to the other agencies and
 institutions eligible to receive funds under Section 17 of this
 article in proportion to the other funds allocated to those
 agencies and institutions as provided by Section 17(d) of this
 article, until the legislature or designated agency eliminates the
 component institutions of The Texas A&M University System from the
 formula and allocations made under Section 17(d) of this article.
 (c)  This section expires September 1, 2031.
 SECTION 4.   This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
 following proposition: "The constitutional amendment to entitle
 all component institutions of The Texas A&M University System and
 The University of Texas System to participate in the income and
 other benefits of the permanent university fund."