Bill Text: TX HB173 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Introduced

Texas House Bill 173 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to fund capital projects at public institutions of higher education.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-10-15 - Referred to Appropriations [HB173 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB173-Introduced.html

	87S30599 MM-D

	By: Murphy	H.B. No. 173



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to authorizing the issuance of revenue bonds to fund
	capital projects at public institutions of higher education.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. 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) Tarleton State University, $63 million for
	construction of a College of Health Sciences and Human Services
	building;
	(2) Texas A&M University, $175 million for
	construction of a veterinary clinical research building;
	(3) Texas A&M University--Commerce, $95 million for
	construction of an agricultural education and research complex;
	(4) Texas A&M University at Galveston, $40.5 million
	for construction of an engineering classroom and research building;
	(5) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $60 million to
	address deferred maintenance;
	(6) West Texas A&M University, $33,353,000 for repairs
	and renovations to nine buildings to address health and safety
	issues identified in the state fire marshal's report; and
	(7) The Texas A&M University System Health Science
	Center:
	(A) $90 million for construction of the Texas
	Medical Center Building 3 in Houston, Texas; and
	(B) $36 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 at Arlington, $120,600,000
	for renovation of the Life Science Building;
	(2) The University of Texas at Austin, $90 million for
	renovation of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Building;
	(3) The University of Texas at Dallas, $76.5 million
	for construction of a student success center;
	(4) The University of Texas Permian Basin, $63 million
	for renovation of the Mesa Building and campus transformation;
	(5) The University of Texas--Rio Grande Valley,
	$68,400,000 for construction of a health affairs building;
	(6) The University of Texas at Tyler, $68,400,000 for
	construction of a sciences building;
	(7) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
	Houston, $90 million for construction of a public health education
	and research building;
	(8) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
	San Antonio, $99 million for construction of the Institute for
	Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases Building;
	(9) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
	Tyler, $63 million for construction of a health professions
	education center;
	(10) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
	Center, $90 million for construction of a life sciences research,
	innovation, and discovery initiative facility; and
	(11) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
	Center at Dallas, $90,144,468 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, $92,250,000 for
	construction of the Katy Academic Building 2;
	(2) the University of Houston, $39,513,206 for
	renovation of the Hobby School of Public Affairs Building;
	(3) the University of Houston--Victoria:
	(A) $33,825,000 for construction of a health
	science building; and
	(B) $39,975,000 for construction of an
	engineering facility; and
	(4) the University of Houston--Downtown, $10 million
	for the construction of the Police Department and Criminal Justice
	Academy 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 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) Lamar State College--Orange, $42 million for the
	replacement of an academic building to house general academic
	instruction and information technology services;
	(2) Lamar State College--Port Arthur, $55 million for
	construction of an allied health and sciences building;
	(3) Lamar Institute of Technology, $48 million for
	construction of a facility for workforce and allied health
	programs; and
	(4) Texas State University, $88 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) $126 million for construction of a science
	and technology research building; and
	(B) $85 million for construction of a commerce,
	analytics, technology, and engineering building in Frisco, Texas;
	(2) the University of North Texas at Dallas, $163
	million for construction of a science building; and
	(3) the University of North Texas Health Science
	Center at Fort Worth, $42 million for renovation of four buildings.
	(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 $108 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) Texas Tech University, $72 million for renovations
	and maintenance for campus buildings;
	(2) Midwestern State University, $41 million for
	renovation of an existing building;
	(3) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, $90
	million for maintenance and renovation of an existing facility; and
	(4) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El
	Paso, $163,080,000 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
	projects to be financed through the issuance of bonds in accordance
	with this subchapter, not to exceed the following aggregate
	principal amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
	(1) $22,800,000 for renovation of an existing research
	labs building; and
	(2) $59 million for construction of a student housing
	and multipurpose conference center.
	(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, $33,300,000
	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; and
	(3) Texas State Technical College--Harlingen,
	$37,800,000 for Harlingen 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 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
	last day of the legislative session.