Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5150 Compare Versions

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1	1		By: Louderback H.B. No. 5150
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4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to the transfer of the University of Houston--Victoria to
7	9		The Texas A&M University System.
8	10		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	11		SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Chapter 87, Education Code, is
10	12		amended by adding Subchapter M to read as follows:
11	13		SUBCHAPTER M. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY--VICTORIA
12	14		Sec. 87.881. ESTABLISHMENT; SCOPE. (a) Texas A&M
13	15		University--Victoria is a general academic teaching institution
14	16		located in the city of Victoria.
15	17		(b) The university is a component institution of The Texas
16	18		A&M University System and is under the management and control of the
17	19		board of regents of The Texas A&M University System. The board of
18	20		regents has the same powers and duties concerning Texas A&M
19	21		University--Victoria as are conferred on the board by statute
20	22		concerning Texas A&M University.
21	23		Sec. 87.882. COURSES AND DEGREES; ADMINISTRATION. (a) The
22	24		university shall offer undergraduate and graduate level programs.
23	25		(b) The board of regents may prescribe courses leading to
24	26		appropriate degrees and adopt other rules necessary for the
25	27		operation and management of the university.
26	28		(c) The university is subject to the authority of the Texas
27	29		Higher Education Coordinating Board.
28	30		Sec. 87.883. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board of regents may
29	31		solicit, accept, and administer gifts and grants for the use and
30	32		benefit of the university.
31	33		SECTION 2. TRANSFER OF GOVERNANCE OF UNIVERSITY. The
32	34		governance, control, management, and property of the University of
33	35		Houston--Victoria are transferred from the board of regents of the
34	36		University of Houston System to the board of regents of The Texas
35	37		A&M University System. The transfer is governed by Sections 3
36	38		through 7 of this Act.
37	39		SECTION 3. POWERS AND DUTIES; RULES AND POLICIES. (a) When
38	40		the transfer takes effect, the board of regents of The Texas A&M
39	41		University System shall govern, operate, manage, and control the
40	42		University of Houston--Victoria and all land, buildings,
41	43		facilities, improvements, equipment, supplies, and property
42	44		belonging to and constituting the University of Houston--Victoria
43	45		under the powers and duties conferred by law on the board of
44	46		regents.
45	47		(b) Rules and policies adopted by the board of regents of
46	48		the University of Houston System to govern the university that are
47	49		in effect when the transfer takes effect are continued in effect
48	50		until adopted, repealed, or superseded by the board of regents of
49	51		The Texas A&M University System. The board of regents of The Texas
50	52		A&M University System may adopt rules and policies applicable to
51	53		the university in anticipation of the transfer authorized by this
52	54		Act.
53	55		SECTION 4. CONTRACTS AND WRITTEN OBLIGATIONS, INCLUDING
54	56		BONDS. Contracts and written obligations of every kind and
55	57		character entered into by the board of regents of the University of
56	58		Houston System for and on behalf of the University of
57	59		Houston--Victoria, including bonds, are considered ratified,
58	60		confirmed, and validated by the board of regents of The Texas A&M
59	61		University System on the effective date of the transfer. In those
60	62		contracts and written obligations, the board of regents of The
61	63		Texas A&M University System is substituted for and stands and acts
62	64		in the place of the board of regents of the University of Houston
63	65		System to the extent permitted by law.
64	66		SECTION 5. TUITION AND FEES. The tuition and fees
65	67		authorized by the board of regents of the University of Houston
66	68		System before and transfer of governance under this Act remain in
67	69		effect until the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System
68	70		authorizes a different amount of tuition and fees for the
69	71		University of Houston-Victoria as provided by law.
70	72		SECTION 6. EFFECT OF TRANSFER ON STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES.
71	73		(a) All students of the University of Houston-Victoria shall
72	74		become students of Texas A&M University-Victoria on the effective
73	75		date of this Act. The transfer of the governance of the University
74	76		of Houston--Victoria under this Act does not otherwise affect the
75	77		status of any student of the university.
76	78		(b) All employees of the University of Houston-Victoria
77	79		shall become employees of Texas A&M University-Victoria on the
78	80		effective date of this Act. The transfer of the governance of the
79	81		University of Houston--Victoria under this Act does not otherwise
80	82		affect the employment status or accrued benefits of a person
81	83		employed by the university when the transfer takes effect.
82	84		SECTION 7. CURRENT FUNDING. All funds that, on the
83	85		effective date of the transfer, have been appropriated or dedicated
84	86		to or are held for the use and benefit of the University of
85	87		Houston--Victoria under the governance of the board of regents of
86	88		the University of Houston System are transferred to the board of
87	89		regents of The Texas A&M University System for the use and benefit
88	90		of Texas A&M University--Victoria.
89	91		SECTION 8. AMENDMENT. The heading to Section 54.5405,
90	92		Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
91	93		Sec. 54.5405. STUDENT CENTER FEE; TEXAS A&M
92	94		UNIVERSITY--VICTORIA [UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-VICTORIA].
93	95		SECTION 9. AMENDMENT. Sections 54.5405(a) and (d),
94	96		Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
95	97		(a) The board of regents of The Texas A&M [the] University
96	98		[of Houston] System may impose on each student enrolled at Texas A&M
97	99		University--Victoria [the University of Houston-Victoria] a
98	100		student center fee to be used only for the purpose of financing,
99	101		constructing, operating, maintaining, improving, and equipping a
100	102		student center at the university. A fee imposed under this section
101	103		is in addition to any use or service fee authorized to be imposed
102	104		under other law.
103	105		(d) Revenue from a fee imposed under this section shall be
104	106		deposited to the credit of an account known as the "Texas A&M
105	107		University--Victoria [University of Houston-Victoria] Student
106	108		Center Fee Account" under the control of the university's student
107	109		fee advisory committee. Annually, the committee shall submit to
108	110		the president of the university its recommendation for any change
109	111		to the amount of the fee and a complete and itemized budget for the
110	112		student center together with a complete report of all student
111	113		center activities conducted during the past year and all
112	114		expenditures made in connection with those activities. The
113	115		president shall submit the budget to the board of regents as part of
114	116		the university's institutional budget. The board of regents may
115	117		make changes in the budget that the board determines are necessary.
116	118		SECTION 10. AMENDMENT. The heading to Section 54.5406,
117	119		Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
118	120		Sec. 54.5406. HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER FEE; TEXAS A&M
119	121		UNIVERSITY--VICTORIA [UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-VICTORIA].
120	122		SECTION 11. AMENDMENT. Sections 54.5406(a) and (d),
121	123		Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
122	124		(a) The board of regents of The Texas A&M [the] University
123	125		[of Houston] System may charge each student enrolled at Texas A&M
124	126		University--Victoria [the University of Houston-Victoria] a health
125	127		and wellness center fee. The fee may be used only for the purpose of
126	128		financing, constructing, operating, maintaining, improving, and
127	129		equipping a health and wellness center at Texas A&M
128	130		University--Victoria [the University of Houston-Victoria]. A fee
129	131		charged under this section is in addition to any use or service fee
130	132		authorized to be charged under other law.
131	133		(d) Revenue from a fee charged under this section shall be
132	134		deposited to the credit of an account known as the Texas A&M
133	135		University--Victoria [University of Houston-Victoria] Health and
134	136		Wellness Center Fee Account under the control of the university's
135	137		student fee advisory committee. Annually, the committee shall
136	138		submit to the president of the university its recommendation for
137	139		any change to the amount of the fee and a complete and itemized
138	140		budget for the health and wellness center together with a complete
139	141		report of all health and wellness center activities conducted
140	142		during the past year and all expenditures made in connection with
141	143		those activities. The president shall submit the budget to the
142	144		board of regents as part of the university's institutional budget.
143	145		The board of regents may make changes in the budget that the board
144	146		determines are necessary.
145	147		SECTION 12. AMENDMENT. Section 55.1723(a), Education Code,
146	148		is amended to read as follows:
147	149		(a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
148	150		subchapter, the board of regents of the University of Houston
149	151		System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
150	152		enlarge, or equip property, buildings, structures, facilities,
151	153		roads, or related infrastructure for the following institutions to
152	154		be financed by the issuance of bonds in accordance with this
153	155		subchapter and in accordance with a systemwide revenue financing
154	156		program adopted by the board in an aggregate principal amount not to
155	157		exceed the following amounts:
156	158		(1) the University of Houston, $12 million; and
157	159		(2) the University of Houston--Downtown, $7.5
158	160		million[; and
159	161		[(3) the University of Houston--Victoria, $10
160	162		million].
161	163		SECTION 13. AMENDMENT. Section 55.1733(a), Education Code,
162	164		is amended to read as follows:
163	165		(a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
164	166		subchapter, the board of regents of the University of Houston
165	167		System may issue in accordance with this subchapter and in
166	168		accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
167	169		the board bonds for the following institutions not to exceed the
168	170		following aggregate principal amounts to finance projects
169	171		specified as follows:
170	172		(1) the University of Houston, $51 million to
171	173		construct science and engineering research and classroom
172	174		facilities;
173	175		(2) the University of Houston--Downtown, $18,232,500
174	176		to construct a classroom building; and
175	177		(3) the University of Houston--Clear Lake,
176	178		$30,918,750 to construct a student services and classroom
177	179		building[; and
178	180		[(4) the University of Houston--Victoria, $2,805,000
179	181		to remodel the University West facility, acquire and renovate a
180	182		facility services building, and renovate and expand a facility for
181	183		the center for community initiatives].
182	184		SECTION 14. AMENDMENT. Section 55.1753(a), Education Code,
183	185		is amended to read as follows:
184	186		(a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
185	187		subchapter, the board of regents of the University of Houston
186	188		System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
187	189		enlarge, or equip facilities, including roads and related
188	190		infrastructure, for the following institutions, to be financed
189	191		through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter
190	192		and in accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program
191	193		adopted by the board, in aggregate principal amounts not to exceed
192	194		the following:
193	195		(1) the University of Houston, $57,600,000 for
194	196		renovation of science laboratories;
195	197		(2) the University of Houston--Clear Lake,
196	198		$10,604,808 for Arbor Building renovations and additions; and
197	199		(3) the University of Houston--Downtown, $31,626,000
198	200		for a classroom building at Shea Street[; and
199	201		[(4) the University of Houston--Victoria:
200	202		[(A) $22,900,000 for an academic building at the
201	203		University of Houston System Center at Sugar Land;
202	204		[(B) $6,719,400 for regional economic
203	205		development; and
204	206		[(C) $1,800,000 for allied health facilities].
205	207		SECTION 15. AMENDMENT. Section 55.1783(a), Education Code,
206	208		is amended to read as follows:
207	209		(a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
208	210		subchapter, the board of regents of the University of Houston
209	211		System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
210	212		enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
211	213		related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
212	214		issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
213	215		accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
214	216		the board for the following institutions or entities, not to exceed
215	217		the following aggregate principal amounts for the projects
216	218		specified, as follows:
217	219		(1) the University of Houston:
218	220		(A) $63 million for construction of a health and
219	221		biomedical sciences center; and
220	222		(B) $54 million for construction of a new
221	223		academic building located in Sugar Land, Texas;
222	224		(2) the University of Houston--Clear Lake:
223	225		(A) $24,624,000 for construction of a health
224	226		sciences and classroom building located in Pearland, Texas; and
225	227		(B) $54 million for construction of a STEM and
226	228		classroom building;
227	229		(3) the University of Houston--Downtown, $60 million
228	230		for construction of a science and technology building;
229	231		[(4) the University of Houston--Victoria, $60 million
230	232		for academic expansion and land acquisition;] and
231	233		(4) [(5)] the University of Houston System,
232	234		$46,832,000 for land acquisition for construction of a building in
233	235		the area near Katy, Texas.
234	236		SECTION 16. AMENDMENT. Section 55.1793(a), Education Code,
235	237		is amended to read as follows:
236	238		(a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
237	239		subchapter, the board of regents of the University of Houston
238	240		System may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate,
239	241		enlarge, or equip property and facilities, including roads and
240	242		related infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the
241	243		issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter and in
242	244		accordance with a systemwide revenue financing program adopted by
243	245		the board for the following institutions, not to exceed the
244	246		following aggregate principal amounts for the projects specified,
245	247		as follows:
246	248		(1) the University of Houston System, $59,897,111 for
247	249		construction of a medical research facility;
248	250		(2) the University of Houston:
249	251		(A) $40 million for construction of the Hobby
250	252		School of Public Affairs Building;
251	253		(B) $52,409,972 for construction of the IDEA Lab;
252	254		and
253	255		(C) $52,409,972 for construction of the Sugar
254	256		Land Academic Building 2;
255	257		(3) the University of Houston--Clear Lake,
256	258		$44,922,833 for renovation of the Bayou Building, the Delta
257	259		Building, and the Student Services and Classroom Building; and
258	260		(4) the University of Houston--Downtown, $44,922,833
259	261		for renovation of existing buildings and other campus
260	262		infrastructure upgrades and for the construction of the Police
261	263		Department and Criminal Justice Academy Building[; and
262	264		[(5) the University of Houston--Victoria, $44,922,833
263	265		for renovation of existing buildings and other campus
264	266		infrastructure upgrades].
265	267		SECTION 17. AMENDMENT. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education
266	268		Code, is amended by adding Section 55.17812 to read as follows:
267	269		Sec. 55.17812. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY--VICTORIA. (a) In
268	270		addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
269	271		board of regents of The Texas A&M University System may issue bonds
270	272		in accordance with this subchapter and in accordance with a
271	273		systemwide revenue financing program adopted by the board in the
272	274		aggregate principal amounts not to exceed the amounts previously
273	275		authorized for the University of Houston--Victoria by Sections
274	276		55.1723, 55.173, 55.1733, 55.1753, 55.1783, and 55.1793, as those
275	277		sections existed immediately before this section took effect, less
276	278		any portion of those amounts for which bonds were issued under those
277	279		sections for the university before the date this section took
278	280		effect. Subject to Subsection (d), bonds issued under this section
279	281		for an amount previously authorized by Section 55.1723, 55.173,
280	282		55.1733, 55.1753, 55.1783, or 55.1793 may be used only at Texas A&M
281	283		University--Victoria for the purposes for which the bonds for the
282	284		University of Houston--Victoria were authorized to be issued under
283	285		Section 55.1723, 55.173, 55.1733, 55.1753, 55.1783, or 55.1793, as
284	286		applicable.
285	287		(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
286	288		bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of an institution,
287	289		branch, or entity of The Texas A&M University System, including
288	290		student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge made under this
289	291		subsection may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which
290	292		the pledge is made, or bonds issued to refund those bonds, are
291	293		outstanding.
292	294		(c) If sufficient funds are not available to the board to
293	295		meet its obligations under this section, the board may transfer
294	296		funds among institutions, branches, and entities of The Texas A&M
295	297		University System to ensure the most equitable and efficient
296	298		allocation of available resources for each institution, branch, or
297	299		entity to carry out its duties and purposes.
298	300		(d) Any portion of the proceeds of bonds authorized by this
299	301		section for one or more specified projects that is not required for
300	302		the specified projects may be used to renovate existing structures
301	303		and facilities at the university.
302	304		SECTION 18. AMENDMENT. Section 62.021(a), Education Code,
303	305		is amended to read as follows:
304	306		(a) In each state fiscal year beginning with the state
305	307		fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, an eligible institution is
306	308		entitled to receive an amount allocated in accordance with this
307	309		section from the funds appropriated for that year by Section 17(a),
308	310		Article VII, Texas Constitution. The comptroller shall distribute
309	311		funds allocated under this subsection only on presentation of a
310	312		claim and issuance of a warrant in accordance with Section 403.071,
311	313		Government Code. An eligible institution may not present a claim to
312	314		be paid from any funds allocated under this subsection before the
313	315		delivery of goods or services described in Section 17, Article VII,
314	316		Texas Constitution, except for the payment of principal or interest
315	317		on bonds or notes or for a payment for a book or other published
316	318		library material as authorized by Section 2155.386, Government
317	319		Code. The allocation of funds under this subsection is made in
318	320		accordance with an equitable formula consisting of the following
319	321		elements: space deficit, facilities condition, institutional
320	322		complexity, and a separate allocation for the Texas State Technical
321	323		College System. The annual amounts allocated by the formula are as
322	324		follows:
323	325		(1) to the following component institutions of the
324	326		University of North Texas System:
325	327		(A) $38,473,304 to the University of North Texas;
326	328		(B) $15,581,837 to the University of North Texas
327	329		Health Science Center at Fort Worth; and
328	330		(C) $3,455,644 to the University of North Texas
329	331		at Dallas;
330	332		(2) to the following component institutions of the
331	333		Texas State University System:
332	334		(A) $13,537,649 to Lamar University;
333	335		(B) $2,630,158 to the Lamar Institute of
334	336		Technology;
335	337		(C) $1,533,301 to Lamar State College--Orange;
336	338		(D) $2,283,992 to Lamar State College--Port
337	339		Arthur;
338	340		(E) $18,787,013 to Sam Houston State University;
339	341		(F) $38,741,061 to Texas State University;
340	342		(G) $2,216,640 to Sul Ross State University; and
341	343		(H) $487,157 to Sul Ross State University-Rio
342	344		Grande College;
343	345		(3) $12,072,906 to Texas Southern University;
344	346		(4) to the following component institutions of the
345	347		Texas Tech University System:
346	348		(A) $51,379,461 to Texas Tech University;
347	349		(B) $22,305,642 to Texas Tech University Health
348	350		Sciences Center;
349	351		(C) $6,997,943 to Angelo State University;
350	352		(D) $5,725,243 to Texas Tech University Health
351	353		Sciences Center--El Paso; and
352	354		(E) $5,082,034 to Midwestern State University;
353	355		(5) $14,993,229 to the component institutions of the
354	356		Texas Woman's University System, allocated as determined by the
355	357		board of regents of the system;
356	358		(6) to the following component institutions of the
357	359		University of Houston System:
358	360		(A) $56,158,685 to the University of Houston;
359	361		(B) [$3,649,703 to the University of
360	362		Houston--Victoria;
361	363		[(C)] $7,959,137 to the University of
362	364		Houston--Clear Lake; and
363	365		(C) [(D)] $11,155,034 to the University of
364	366		Houston--Downtown;
365	367		(7) to the following component institutions of The
366	368		Texas A&M University System:
367	369		(A) $11,825,139 to Texas A&M University--Corpus
368	370		Christi;
369	371		(B) $7,687,534 to Texas A&M International
370	372		University;
371	373		(C) $9,125,307 to Texas A&M
372	374		University--Kingsville;
373	375		(D) $7,671,155 to West Texas A&M University;
374	376		(E) $11,459,464 to Texas A&M
375	377		University--Commerce; [and]
376	378		(F) $2,112,129 to Texas A&M
377	379		University--Texarkana; and
378	380		(G) $3,649,703 to Texas A&M
379	381		University--Victoria; and
380	382		(8) $8,662,500 to the Texas State Technical College
381	383		System Administration and the following component campuses, but not
382	384		its extension centers or programs:
383	385		(A) Texas State Technical College-Harlingen;
384	386		(B) Texas State Technical College--Marshall;
385	387		(C) Texas State Technical College--West Texas;
386	388		(D) Texas State Technical College--Waco;
387	389		(E) Texas State Technical College--Fort Bend;
388	390		and
389	391		(F) Texas State Technical College--North Texas.
390	392		SECTION 19. TRANSITION. Not later than June 1, 2025, the
391	393		University of Houston System and The Texas A&M University System
392	394		shall enter into a memorandum of understanding relating to the
393	395		transfer of the administration of the University of
394	396		Houston-Victoria to The Texas A&M University System. The
395	397		memorandum of understanding must include a timetable and specific
396	398		steps and methods for the transfer on September 1, 2025 of all
397	399		powers, duties, obligations, rights, contracts, leases, records,
398	400		real or personal property and unspent and unobligated
399	401		appropriations and other funds relating to the transfer of the
400	402		University of Houston-Victoria to The Texas A&M University System.
401	403		SECTION 20. REPEALER. The following provisions of the
402	404		Education Code are repealed:
403	405		(1) Section 55.173; and
404	406		(2) Subchapter G, Chapter 111.
405	407		SECTION 21. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
406	408		September 1, 2025.