Bill Text: TX HB159 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the issuance of revenue bonds to fund capital projects at public institutions of higher education and the designation of certain appropriated funds allocated to those institutions.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 35-14)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-10-15 - Referred to Appropriations [HB159 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB159-Introduced.html
| 87S30814 MM-F | ||
| By: Burns | H.B. No. 159 | |
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| relating to the issuance of revenue bonds to fund capital projects | ||
| at public institutions of higher education and the designation of | ||
| certain appropriated funds allocated to those institutions. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 55.111 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 55.111. CERTAIN ALLOCATED FUNDS TO BE DESIGNATED AS | ||
| CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT DEBT ASSISTANCE. For purposes of this | ||
| subchapter, funds allocated from the appropriation of general | ||
| revenue to an institution of higher education to supplement revenue | ||
| funds of the institution described by Section 55.13(a) may be | ||
| designated as "Capital Improvement Debt Assistance." | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 55, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Sections 55.1791, 55.1792, 55.1793, 55.1794, | ||
| 55.1795, 55.1796, 55.1797, 55.1798, 55.1799, and 55.17991 to read | ||
| as follows: | ||
| Sec. 55.1791. 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 property and 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 Texas A&M University System, $58 million for | ||
| construction of a STEM education center at the RELLIS campus; | ||
| (2) Prairie View A&M University, $60 million for | ||
| construction of a teaching and academic student support services | ||
| facility; | ||
| (3) Tarleton State University: | ||
| (A) $60 million for construction of a College of | ||
| Health Sciences and Human Services building on the Stephenville | ||
| campus; and | ||
| (B) $60 million for Fort Worth campus expansion; | ||
| (4) Texas A&M University, $75 million for construction | ||
| of a clinical veterinary teaching and research complex; | ||
| (5) Texas A&M University--Commerce, $60 million for | ||
| construction of an agricultural education and research complex; | ||
| (6) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi, $60 million | ||
| for construction of an arts and media building; | ||
| (7) Texas A&M University at Galveston, $45 million for | ||
| construction of an engineering classroom and research building; | ||
| (8) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $60 million for | ||
| renovations to address deferred maintenance for campus buildings; | ||
| (9) Texas A&M University--Central Texas, $50 million | ||
| for construction of a central utility plant and infrastructure | ||
| upgrades; | ||
| (10) West Texas A&M University, $60 million for | ||
| infrastructure upgrades to address health and safety issues and the | ||
| renovation of an education building; | ||
| (11) Texas A&M University--San Antonio, $60 million | ||
| for construction of a public health and education building; | ||
| (12) Texas A&M International University, $60 million | ||
| for construction of a health science education and research center; | ||
| (13) Texas A&M University--Texarkana, $46 million for | ||
| construction of a business, engineering, and technology building; | ||
| and | ||
| (14) The Texas A&M University System Health Science | ||
| Center: | ||
| (A) $80 million for construction of the Texas | ||
| Medical Center Building 3 in Houston, Texas; and | ||
| (B) $40 million for construction of a nursing | ||
| education and research center in McAllen, Texas. | ||
| (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. 55.1792. 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 property and 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 System, $75 million for | ||
| renovation of the Microelectronics Research Center at the | ||
| J. J. Pickle Research Campus; | ||
| (2) The University of Texas at Arlington, $70 million | ||
| for renovation of the Life Science building; | ||
| (3) The University of Texas at Austin, $75 million for | ||
| renovation of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy building; | ||
| (4) The University of Texas at Dallas, $70 million for | ||
| construction of a student success center; | ||
| (5) The University of Texas at El Paso, $70 million for | ||
| construction of an advanced teaching and learning complex; | ||
| (6) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, $60 | ||
| million for renovation of the Mesa Building and campus | ||
| transformation; | ||
| (7) The University of Texas--Rio Grande Valley, $60 | ||
| million for construction of a health affairs building; | ||
| (8) The University of Texas at San Antonio, $70 | ||
| million for construction of an Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and | ||
| Careers building; | ||
| (9) The University of Texas at Tyler, $60 million for | ||
| construction of a sciences building; | ||
| (10) The University of Texas Health Science Center at | ||
| Houston, $80 million for construction of a public health education | ||
| and research building; | ||
| (11) The University of Texas Health Science Center at | ||
| San Antonio, $80 million for construction of the Glenn Biggs | ||
| Institute for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases Building; | ||
| (12) The University of Texas Health Science Center at | ||
| Tyler, $69,972,826 for construction of a health professions | ||
| education center; | ||
| (13) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer | ||
| Center, $80 million for construction of a life sciences research, | ||
| innovation, and discovery initiative facility; | ||
| (14) The University of Texas Medical Branch at | ||
| Galveston, $80 million for infrastructure and research space | ||
| upgrades for research buildings; and | ||
| (15) UT Southwestern Medical Center, $80 million for | ||
| construction of the north campus Phase VI Brain Institute shell | ||
| space. | ||
| (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. 55.1793. 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 property and 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 Houston System: | ||
| (A) $70 million for construction of the Katy | ||
| Academic Building 2; and | ||
| (B) $80 million for construction of a medical | ||
| research facility; | ||
| (2) the University of Houston: | ||
| (A) $39,513,206 for construction of the Hobby | ||
| School of Public Affairs Building; and | ||
| (B) $70 million for construction of the Sugar | ||
| Land Academic Building 2; | ||
| (3) the University of Houston--Clear Lake, $60 million | ||
| for renovation of the Bayou Building, the Delta Building, and the | ||
| Student Services and Classroom Building; | ||
| (4) the University of Houston--Downtown, $60 million | ||
| for renovation of existing buildings and other campus | ||
| infrastructure upgrades and for the construction of the Police | ||
| Department and Criminal Justice Academy Building; and | ||
| (5) the University of Houston--Victoria, $60 million | ||
| for construction of a health science building and an engineering | ||
| facility. | ||
| (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. 55.1794. 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 property and 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) Texas State University System, $15 million for | ||
| construction of a field research station and dam repair; | ||
| (2) Lamar State College--Orange, $42 million for the | ||
| replacement of an academic building to house general academic | ||
| instruction and information technology services; | ||
| (3) Lamar State College--Port Arthur, $50 million for | ||
| construction of an allied health and sciences building; | ||
| (4) Lamar Institute of Technology, $48 million for | ||
| construction of a facility for workforce and allied health | ||
| programs; | ||
| (5) Lamar University, $60 million for renovation of a | ||
| library; | ||
| (6) Sul Ross State University, $35,250,000 for | ||
| renovation of fine arts facilities; | ||
| (7) Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College, | ||
| $44,235,000 for construction of a multipurpose education and | ||
| services building; | ||
| (8) Sam Houston State University: | ||
| (A) $60 million for construction of an allied | ||
| health building located in Conroe, Texas; and | ||
| (B) $60 million for construction of an active | ||
| learning center located in Huntsville, Texas; and | ||
| (9) Texas State University: | ||
| (A) $70 million for construction of a STEM | ||
| classroom building located in San Marcos, Texas; and | ||
| (B) $70 million for construction of a health | ||
| professions building located in Round Rock, Texas. | ||
| (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. 55.1795. 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 property and 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 North Texas: | ||
| (A) $70 million for construction of a science and | ||
| technology research building; and | ||
| (B) $70 million for construction of a commerce, | ||
| analytics, technology, and engineering building in Frisco, Texas; | ||
| (2) the University of North Texas at Dallas, $60 | ||
| million for construction of a science building; and | ||
| (3) the University of North Texas Health Science | ||
| Center at Fort Worth, $80 million for campus space optimization and | ||
| realignment. | ||
| (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. | ||
| Sec. 55.1796. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL BONDS. | ||
| (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 property | ||
| and facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for a | ||
| health sciences center, to be financed through the issuance of | ||
| bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the | ||
| aggregate principal amount of $60 million. | ||
| (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. 55.1797. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY; | ||
| ADDITIONAL BONDS. (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 property and facilities, including roads and | ||
| related infrastructure, for demolition of the Miller Science | ||
| Building, renovation of the Forestry Building, and construction of | ||
| a new addition, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in | ||
| accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate | ||
| principal amount of $53 million. | ||
| (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. 55.1798. 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 property and 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) Angelo State University, $36 million for a central | ||
| plant maintenance and renovation; | ||
| (2) Texas Tech University, $70 million for renovations | ||
| to address deferred maintenance for campus buildings; | ||
| (3) Midwestern State University, $50 million for | ||
| renovations to an existing building and other campus infrastructure | ||
| upgrades; | ||
| (4) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center: | ||
| (A) $80 million for maintenance and renovation of | ||
| an existing facility; and | ||
| (B) $25 million for construction and equipment of | ||
| the physician assistant facility in Midland, Texas; and | ||
| (5) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El | ||
| Paso, $80 million for construction of a dental school 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 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. 55.1799. 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 property | ||
| and facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for | ||
| renovations to existing buildings and other campus infrastructure | ||
| upgrades to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance | ||
| with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate principal amount | ||
| of $60 million. | ||
| (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. 55.17991. 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 and facilities, including roads and related | ||
| infrastructure, for projects to be financed through the issuance of | ||
| bonds in accordance with this subchapter for the following entity | ||
| and institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate principal | ||
| amounts for the projects specified, as follows: | ||
| (1) Texas State Technical College System, $33.3 | ||
| million for the East Williamson County Higher Education Center | ||
| expansion; | ||
| (2) Texas State Technical College--Fort Bend, | ||
| $41,800,000 for Fort Bend County campus expansion; | ||
| (3) Texas State Technical College--Harlingen, | ||
| $37,800,000 for Harlingen campus expansion; | ||
| (4) Texas State Technical College--Marshall, $15 | ||
| million for Marshall campus expansion; | ||
| (5) Texas State Technical College--North Texas, $13.5 | ||
| million for North Texas campus expansion; | ||
| (6) Texas State Technical College--West Texas, $13.5 | ||
| million for West Texas campus expansion; and | ||
| (7) Texas State Technical College--Waco, $50 million | ||
| for Waco campus expansion. | ||
| (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 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 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the | ||
| last day of the legislative session. | ||
