Bill Text: TX SB1126 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas Woman's University System.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2021-05-26 - Effective immediately [SB1126 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1126-Introduced.html

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87R9551 KJE-D
By: Springer, Miles S.B. No. 1126

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas
Woman's University System.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 107, Education Code, is
amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 107. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
SECTION 2. Section 107.01, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.01. TEXAS WOMAN'S [LOCATION AND PURPOSE OF]
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. The Texas Woman's University System is a
woman-focused system composed of:
(1) Texas Woman's University;
(2) Texas Woman's University at Dallas; and
(3) Texas Woman's University at Houston [an
institution of higher education for women with its main campus at
Denton].
SECTION 3. Section 107.21, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.21. BOARD OF REGENTS. (a) The board of regents of
the system [university] is composed of nine persons, four of whom
must [shall] be women, appointed by the governor with the advice and
consent of the senate.
(b) Each member of the board must [shall] be a qualified
voter, [;] and the members must [shall] be selected from different
portions of the state.
(c) The members hold office for staggered terms of six
years, with the terms of three expiring February 1 of odd-numbered
years.
SECTION 4. Section 107.23, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.23. BOARD MEETINGS; MINUTES. The presiding
officer shall convene the board to consider any business connected
with the system [university] whenever the presiding officer deems
it expedient. A full record shall be kept of all the board's
proceedings.
SECTION 5. Section 107.42, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.42. STAFF. (a) The board shall appoint a chief
executive officer [president] of the system [university] and other
officers and employees it deems proper and shall fix their
salaries.
(b) The chief executive officer of the system shall also
serve as the president of Texas Woman's University.
(c) The board shall make rules and regulations for the
government of the system's [university's] staff as it deems
advisable.
SECTION 6. Section 107.44, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.44. RULES AND REGULATIONS. The board shall adopt
rules and regulations it deems necessary to carry out the purposes
of the system [institution] and to enforce the faithful discharge
of the duties of all officers, professors, and students.
SECTION 7. Section 107.45(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The board of regents has the power of eminent domain to
acquire for the use of the system [university] in the manner
prescribed by Chapter 21, Property Code, any real property that may
be necessary and proper for carrying out its purposes.
SECTION 8. Section 107.46, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.46. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The board is
specifically authorized, upon terms and conditions acceptable to
it, to accept, retain, and administer gifts, grants, or donations
of any kind, including real estate or money, from any source, for
use by the system [university], and to carry out the directions,
limitations, and provisions declared in writing in the gifts,
grants, or donations.
SECTION 9. Section 107.62, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.62. OBLIGATIONS; PLEDGE OF REVENUE. In payment
for the erecting and equipping of dormitories and improvements, the
board may issue its obligations in the amount and on the terms
deemed advisable by the board. As security the board may pledge the
income from the dormitories and improvements erected or from other
dormitories owned by the system [university], as well as all other
revenue derived by the system [university] from other sources,
except revenue derived by means of appropriations made for a
specific purpose by the legislature.
SECTION 10. Section 107.63, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.63. SALE OF REAL ESTATE. The board may sell or
encumber any part of [the campus or] real property [estate] owned by
the system [university] for the purpose of obtaining funds with
which to erect and equip these improvements or for the purpose of
securing the payment of its obligations issued to any person, firm,
or corporation for the erecting or equipping of these improvements.
SECTION 11. Section 107.64, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.64. REQUIRED DORMITORY RESIDENCE. The board may
adopt regulations it deems reasonable requiring any class or
classes of students to reside in system [university] dormitories or
other buildings.
SECTION 12. Section 107.65, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.65. MANAGEMENT OF DORMITORIES. The board has
absolute and sole management and control of system [university]
dormitories and other improvements.
SECTION 13. Section 107.67, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.67. LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS. In the erecting,
or in contracts for the erecting, of dormitories and other
improvements, the board may not in any manner incur any
indebtedness against the system [university] except as provided in
Sections 107.62 and 107.63 [of this code]. The obligations incurred
in the erecting of dormitories and other improvements may never be
personal obligations of the system [university] but shall be
discharged solely from the revenue or property authorized to be
pledged for that purpose.
SECTION 14. Section 107.69(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The board may establish an historical collection of
items illustrating the history of women in Texas. The historical
collection is to be housed in a building belonging to the system
[university] and is to be known as "The History of Texas Women."
When established, the historical collection may be designated a
state historical collection and shall be for the use and enjoyment
of all citizens of Texas.
SECTION 15. Section 107.81(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) Campus security personnel commissioned under Section
51.203 [of this code] have concurrent jurisdiction with police
officers of a municipality in which a component institution of the
system is located [the City of Denton] to enforce all criminal laws,
including traffic laws, of the state and all ordinances of the
municipality [city] regulating traffic on any public street running
through the property of the system [university] and on any public
street immediately adjacent to property owned or occupied and
controlled by the system [university].
SECTION 16. Sections 107.82(a), (c), (d), and (e),
Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The board of regents and the governing body of a
municipality in which a component institution of the system is
located [city council of Denton] may enter into written agreements,
authorized by resolution of each governing body, to authorize the
regular employed peace officers of the system [university] to
assist the peace officers of the municipality [city] in enforcing
the laws of the state and the ordinances of the municipality [city]
at any location in the municipality [city].
(c) While acting pursuant to the agreement in Subsection (a)
[above] and when such act is outside the property of the system
[university] or outside any public street running through, adjacent
to, or within property owned or occupied and controlled by the
system [university], the peace officers of the system [university]
are under the jurisdiction and command of the chief of police of the
municipality [Denton].
(d) Neither the state nor the system [university] is liable
for actions of a campus police officer acting under the
jurisdiction and command of the chief of police of the municipality
[Denton].
(e) The system has [university shall have] jurisdiction
over its personnel and students upon property owned by the system
[university] to the extent that it may:
(1) assign and regulate parking spaces for its use and
charge and collect appropriate fees for parking and improper
parking;
(2) prohibit parking where it deems necessary; and
(3) set and collect fees for and remove vehicles
parked in violation of its rules and regulations or the laws of the
State of Texas.
SECTION 17. Section 107.83, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.83. CITY DELEGATION OF PARKING REGULATION
AUTHORITY. (a) By contract between the municipality [city] and the
system [university], the governing body [city council] of the
municipality in which a component institution of the system is
located [Denton] may delegate to the system [university] the
authority to regulate the parking of vehicles on any public street
running through or immediately adjacent to property owned or
occupied and controlled by the system [university].
(b) The contract may authorize the system [university] to
assign and regulate parking spaces for its use, to charge and
collect a fee from its personnel and students for parking, to
prohibit parking, and to charge and collect a fee for removing
vehicles parked in violation of law or ordinance or in violation of
a rule governing the parking of vehicles adopted by the board. All
parking violations shall be filed in the municipal court [Municipal
Court of Denton] or the justice of the peace court having
jurisdiction over the offense.
(c) Before the contract is considered by the governing body
of the municipality [city council] or the board, the attorney
general and the applicable city attorney [of Denton] shall review
and either approve the contract or file written legal objections to
the contract with the chief executive officer of both the board and
the governing body of the municipality [council]. The contract must
be approved by resolution of the board and the governing body of the
municipality [city council].
SECTION 18. Section 107.84, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 107.84. CONSTRUCTION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
does not:
(1) limit the police powers of a municipality [the
city] or its law enforcement jurisdiction;
(2) render a campus peace officer an employee of a
municipality [the city] or entitle a campus peace officer to
compensation from a municipality [the city]; or
(3) restrict the power of the system [university]
under other law to enforce laws, ordinances, or rules regulating
traffic or parking.
SECTION 19. Chapter 107, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subchapters F, G, and H to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY
Sec. 107.101. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY. (a) Texas Woman's
University is a woman-focused general academic teaching
institution located in the city of Denton.
(b) The university is under the management and control of
the board of regents.
SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY AT DALLAS
Sec. 107.151. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY AT DALLAS. (a)
Texas Woman's University at Dallas is a woman-focused general
academic teaching institution located in the city of Dallas.
(b) The university is under the management and control of
the board of regents.
SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY AT HOUSTON
Sec. 107.201. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY AT HOUSTON. (a)
Texas Woman's University at Houston is a woman-focused general
academic teaching institution located in the city of Houston.
(b) The university is under the management and control of
the board of regents.
SECTION 20. Section 50A.010, Agriculture Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 50A.010. DUTIES. (a) The council shall:
(1) adopt procedures as necessary to administer this
chapter, including procedures for awarding contracts under this
chapter;
(2) issue requests for research proposals and award
grants:
(A) to enhance the health benefits of fruits and
vegetables; or
(B) to help growers maximize crop yields through
applied research;
(3) develop educational materials that promote the
benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables; and
(4) in cooperation with the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station, The Texas A&M University System, Texas Tech
University, The University of Texas System, the Texas Woman's
University System, state agencies, and produce associations,
develop innovative educational programs related to appropriate and
safe methods of storing, preparing, and serving fresh produce.
(b) The council may:
(1) issue requests for proposals as necessary to
administer this chapter; or
(2) publish educational materials or other materials
developed in conjunction with employees of the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station, The Texas A&M University System, Texas Tech
University, The University of Texas System, or the Texas Woman's
University System.
SECTION 21. The heading to Section 54.5085, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 54.5085. MEDICAL SERVICES FEE; TEXAS WOMAN'S
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
SECTION 22. Sections 54.5085(a), (b), and (c), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The board of regents of the Texas Woman's University
System may charge each student registered at a component
institution of the system [university] a medical services fee not
to exceed $55 for each semester of the regular term or 12-week
summer session and not to exceed $25 for each six-week or shorter
term of the summer session.
(b) Before the board imposes or increases a fee charged at a
component institution under this section, the board shall consider
the recommendations of a student fee advisory committee established
by the president of the institution [university]. A majority of the
members of the advisory committee must be students appointed by the
presiding officer of the student governing body of the institution
and the remainder of the members must be appointed by the president
of the institution [university]. The board may increase the amount
of the fee by an amount that is more than 10 percent of the amount
imposed in the preceding academic year only if that increase is
approved by a majority vote of those students of the institution
[university] participating in a general election called for that
purpose.
(c) A medical services fee charged at a component
institution under this section may be used only to provide medical
services to students registered at the institution [university].
SECTION 23. Section 54.525, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 54.525. FEES FOR STUDENT CENTERS; TEXAS WOMAN'S
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM COMPONENTS. (a) The board of regents of the
Texas Woman's University System may levy a regular, fixed student
fee of not less than $25 or more than $75 [per student] for each
semester of the long session and of not less than $12.50 or more
than $35 [per student] for each term of the summer session on each
student enrolled at a component institution of the system, as the
board determines is just and necessary for the purpose of
financing, improving, operating, maintaining, and equipping
student centers and acquiring or constructing additions to student
centers.
(b) The board may increase a student fee levied at an
institution under this section. If the increase is for more than $3
per fiscal year, a majority of the students enrolled in the
institution voting in an election called for that purpose must
approve the increase.
(c) Revenue from a fee imposed at an institution under this
section shall be deposited to the credit of an account known as the
student center fee account ["Texas Woman's University Student
Center Fee Account"] under the control of the institution's
[university's] student fee advisory committee. Annually, the
committee shall submit to the president of the institution
[university] its recommendation for any change to the amount of the
fee and a complete and itemized budget for the student center
together with a complete report of all student center activities
conducted during the past year and all expenditures made in
connection with those activities. The president shall submit the
budget to the board of regents as part of the institution's
[university's] institutional budget. The board of regents may make
changes in the budget that the board determines are necessary.
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the board may increase
the amount of the fee imposed at an institution for a semester or
summer session to an amount that does not exceed $150 if the
increase is approved by a majority vote of those students enrolled
at the institution participating in a general election called for
that purpose. The increased amount under this subsection may not be
charged after the fifth academic year in which the increased amount
is first charged unless, before the end of that academic year, the
institution has issued bonds payable from the fee, in which event
the increased amount may not be charged after the academic year in
which all such bonds, including refunding bonds for those bonds,
have been fully paid.
SECTION 24. Section 54.5251, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 54.5251. STUDENT FITNESS AND RECREATIONAL FEE; TEXAS
WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) The board of regents of the Texas
Woman's University System may charge each student enrolled at a
component institution of the system [university] a student fitness
and recreational fee in an amount not to exceed:
(1) $125 for each regular semester or each summer
session of more than six weeks; or
(2) $62.50 for each summer session of six weeks or
less.
(b) The fee may be used only for financing, constructing,
operating, maintaining, or improving a fitness or recreational
facility or for operating a fitness or recreational program at the
institution [university].
(c) The fee may not be imposed unless approved by a majority
vote of the students of the institution [university] who
participate in a general student election held for that purpose.
(d) The amount of the fee may not be increased to an amount
that exceeds by 10 percent or more the total amount of the fee as
last approved by a student vote under Subsection (c) or this
subsection unless the increase has been approved by a majority vote
of the students enrolled at the institution [university] who
participate in a general student election called for that purpose.
(e) The chief fiscal officer of the institution
[university] shall collect the fee and shall deposit the revenue
from the fee in an account to be known as the student fitness and
recreational account.
(f) The fee is not considered in determining the maximum
amount of student services fees that may be charged under Section
54.503.
(g) The board may permit a person who is not enrolled at the
institution [university] to use a facility financed with revenue
from the fee imposed at the institution under this section only if:
(1) the person's use will not materially interfere
with use of the facility by students of the institution
[university];
(2) the person is charged a fee in an amount that is
not less than the amount of the student fee or the total amount of
the direct and indirect costs to the institution [university] of
providing for the person's use, except that a charge under this
subdivision may not be imposed on a person who uses the facility
under an existing lifetime contract with the institution
[university] for the use of fitness and recreational facilities;
and
(3) the person's use will not materially increase the
potential liability of the institution [university].
SECTION 25. Section 55.1718, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 55.1718. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) The
board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may
acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
property, buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related
infrastructure for a component institution of the system [Texas
Woman's University] to be financed by the issuance of bonds in
accordance with this subchapter in the aggregate principal amount
of $5 million.
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of the Texas Woman's
University System, including student tuition charges required or
authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at a component
institution of the system [Texas Woman's University]. 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.
SECTION 26. Section 55.1726, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 55.1726. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) The
board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may
acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
property, buildings, structures, facilities, roads, or related
infrastructure for a component institution of the system [Texas
Woman's University] to be financed by the issuance of bonds in
accordance with this subchapter in the aggregate principal amount
not to exceed $8.5 million.
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of the Texas Woman's
University System, including student tuition charges required or
authorized by law to be imposed on students enrolled at a component
institution of the system [Texas Woman's University]. 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.
SECTION 27. Section 55.1736, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 55.1736. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) In
addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may issue
bonds in accordance with this subchapter in the aggregate principal
amount not to exceed $25,797,500 to finance the renovation of
academic and administrative buildings at a component institution of
the system [Texas Woman's University].
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of the Texas Woman's
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) Any portion of the proceeds of bonds authorized by this
section for one or more specified projects that is not required for
the specified projects may be used to renovate existing structures
and facilities at a component [the] institution of the system.
SECTION 28. Section 55.1756, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 55.1756. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) In
addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may
acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
facilities, including roads and related infrastructure, for
renovations and additions to the science building on the Denton
campus of Texas Woman's University, to be financed through the
issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $21,739,712.
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
the Texas Woman's 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.
SECTION 29. Section 55.1786, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 55.1786. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. (a) In
addition to the other authority granted by this subchapter, the
board of regents of the Texas Woman's University System may
acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
property and facilities, including roads and related
infrastructure, for a laboratory building, to be financed through
the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to
exceed the aggregate principal amount of $37,997,000.
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
the Texas Woman's 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.
SECTION 30. Section 61.003(3), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(3) "General academic teaching institution" means The
University of Texas at Austin; The University of Texas at El Paso;
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin; The University of
Texas at Dallas; The University of Texas at San Antonio; Texas A&M
University, Main University; The University of Texas at Arlington;
Tarleton State University; Prairie View A&M University; Texas
Maritime Academy; Texas Tech University; University of North Texas;
Lamar University; Lamar State College--Orange; Lamar State
College--Port Arthur; Texas A&M University--Kingsville; Texas A&M
University--Corpus Christi; Texas Woman's University; Texas
Woman's University at Dallas; Texas Woman's University at Houston;
Texas Southern University; Midwestern State University; University
of Houston; University of Texas--Pan American; The University of
Texas at Brownsville; Texas A&M University--Commerce; Sam Houston
State University; Texas State University; West Texas A&M
University; Stephen F. Austin State University; Sul Ross State
University; Angelo State University; The University of Texas at
Tyler; and any other college, university, or institution so
classified as provided in this chapter or created and so
classified, expressly or impliedly, by law.
SECTION 31. Section 62.021(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) In each state fiscal year beginning with the state
fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, an eligible institution is
entitled to receive an amount allocated in accordance with this
section from the funds appropriated for that year by Section 17(a),
Article VII, Texas Constitution. The comptroller shall distribute
funds allocated under this subsection only on presentation of a
claim and issuance of a warrant in accordance with Section 403.071,
Government Code. An eligible institution may not present a claim to
be paid from any funds allocated under this subsection before the
delivery of goods or services described in Section 17, Article VII,
Texas Constitution, except for the payment of principal or interest
on bonds or notes or for a payment for a book or other published
library material as authorized by Section 2155.386, Government
Code. The allocation of funds under this subsection is made in
accordance with an equitable formula consisting of the following
elements: space deficit, facilities condition, institutional
complexity, and a separate allocation for the Texas State Technical
College System. The annual amounts allocated by the formula are as
follows:
(1) $4,933,200 to Midwestern State University;
(2) to the following component institutions of the
University of North Texas System:
(A) $37,346,563 to the University of North Texas;
(B) $15,125,502 to the University of North Texas
Health Science Center at Fort Worth; and
(C) $3,354,441 to the University of North Texas
at Dallas;
(3) $11,277,793 to Stephen F. Austin State University;
(4) to the following component institutions of the
Texas State University System:
(A) $13,141,181 to Lamar University;
(B) $2,553,130 to the Lamar Institute of
Technology;
(C) $1,488,396 to Lamar State College--Orange;
(D) $2,217,102 to Lamar State College--Port
Arthur;
(E) $18,236,811 to Sam Houston State University;
(F) $37,606,478 to Texas State University;
(G) $2,151,723 to Sul Ross State University; and
(H) $472,890 to Sul Ross State University-Rio
Grande College;
(5) $11,719,335 to Texas Southern University;
(6) to the following component institutions of the
Texas Tech University System:
(A) $49,874,746 to Texas Tech University;
(B) $21,652,392 to Texas Tech University Health
Sciences Center;
(C) $6,792,999 to Angelo State University; and
(D) $5,557,572 to Texas Tech University Health
Sciences Center--El Paso;
(7) $14,554,133 to the component institutions of the
Texas Woman's University System, allocated as determined by the
board of regents of the system;
(8) to the following component institutions of the
University of Houston System:
(A) $54,514,004 to the University of Houston;
(B) $3,542,817 to the University of
Houston--Victoria;
(C) $7,726,043 to the University of
Houston--Clear Lake; and
(D) $10,828,344 to the University of
Houston--Downtown;
(9) to the following component institutions of The
Texas A&M University System:
(A) $11,478,824 to Texas A&M University--Corpus
Christi;
(B) $7,462,394 to Texas A&M International
University;
(C) $8,858,060 to Texas A&M
University--Kingsville;
(D) $7,446,495 to West Texas A&M University;
(E) $11,123,859 to Texas A&M
University--Commerce; and
(F) $2,050,273 to Texas A&M
University--Texarkana; and
(10) $8,662,500 to the Texas State Technical College
System Administration and the following component campuses, but not
its extension centers or programs:
(A) Texas State Technical College-Harlingen;
(B) Texas State Technical College--Marshall;
(C) Texas State Technical College--West Texas;
(D) Texas State Technical College--Waco;
(E) Texas State Technical College--Fort Bend;
and
(F) Texas State Technical College--North Texas.
SECTION 32. Section 301.001(1), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(1) "Eligible institution" means an entity engaged in
health-related pursuits that, except for cooperative associations,
is exempt from federal income tax and includes only:
(A) a municipality;
(B) a political subdivision of the state;
(C) a state-supported health-related
institution, including:
(i) The Texas A&M University System;
(ii) The University of Texas System; and
(iii) the Texas Woman's University System;
(D) a nonprofit health-related institution; or
(E) a cooperative association created under
Subchapter B, a unit of which is located in a county with a
population of more than 3.3 million.
SECTION 33. Section 301.031(1), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(1) "Eligible institution" means an entity engaged in
health-related pursuits that, except for cooperative associations,
is exempt from federal income tax and includes only:
(A) a municipality;
(B) a political subdivision of the state;
(C) a health-related institution supported by
the state or federal government or by a federal department,
division, or agency, including:
(i) The Texas A&M University System;
(ii) The University of Texas System;
(iii) the Texas Woman's University System;
and
(iv) the Children's Nutrition Research
Center;
(D) a nonprofit health-related institution; and
(E) a cooperative association created to provide
a system, a unit of which is located in a county that has a
population of more than 1.3 million and in which a municipality with
a population of more than one million is primarily located, or in a
county contiguous to a county having those characteristics.
SECTION 34. (a) The transition of Texas Woman's University
to the Texas Woman's University System under this Act does not
affect the validity of any contracts or written obligations,
including bonds, entered into by the board of regents of Texas
Woman's University on the university's behalf. In those contracts
and written obligations, the board of regents of the Texas Woman's
University System is substituted for and stands and acts in the
place of the board of regents of Texas Woman's University to the
extent permitted by law.
(b) The transition of Texas Woman's University to the Texas
Woman's University System under this Act does not affect:
(1) the status of any student enrolled at the
university when the transition takes effect; or
(2) the employment status or accrued benefits of any
person employed by the university when the transition takes effect.
(c) All funds that, on the effective date of the transition,
have been appropriated to or dedicated to or are held for the use
and benefit of Texas Woman's University are transferred to the
Texas Woman's University System for the use and benefit of the
system to the extent permitted by law.
(d) Fees previously approved and charged to students of
Texas Woman's University are considered approved and may continue
to be charged and used for the same purposes at each component
institution of the Texas Woman's University System in the same
amounts as charged in the 2020-2021 academic year, subject to
future changes approved as authorized by law.
(e) The changes in law made by this Act to Sections 55.1718,
55.1726, 55.1736, 55.1756, and 55.1786, Education Code, do not
authorize bonds in an amount that exceeds the original amount of
bonds authorized by those sections.
(f) Degree programs previously offered at the branch
locations of Texas Woman's University that are designated as
independent component institutions of the Texas Woman's University
System under Chapter 107, Education Code, as amended by this Act,
are considered to have been approved as degree programs of the
respective component institutions.
(g) The board of regents of the Texas Woman's University
System may take any action necessary to transition Texas Woman's
University to the Texas Woman's University System under this Act,
including by:
(1) allocating university funds, property, and
personnel as the board determines appropriate between the system's
component institutions;
(2) continuing to operate the branch locations of
Texas Woman's University that are designated as independent
component institutions of the Texas Woman's University System under
Chapter 107, Education Code, as amended by this Act, as branch
locations of the university until the board determines that
transitioning those branch locations to independent component
institutions of the system is appropriate and feasible; and
(3) postponing the effect of any other changes made by
this Act as the board determines appropriate.
SECTION 35. This Act takes effect immediately if it
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.