Bill Text: TX SB21 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-26 - Referred to Higher Education [SB21 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB21-Introduced.html

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By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 21

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 55.1781, 55.1782, 55.1783, 55.1784,
55.1785, 55.1786, 55.1787, 55.1788, 55.1789, 55.17891, and
55.17892 to read as follows:
Sec. 55.1781. 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) Texas A&M University--Commerce:
(A) $54 million for a nursing and health sciences
building; and
(B) $54 million for a library and center for
educational innovation and faculty development;
(2) Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi:
(A) $120 million for a life sciences research and
engineering building; and
(B) $50 million for an arts and media building;
(3) Texas A&M University--Kingsville, $93 million for
a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classroom
building;
(4) Texas A&M University--Texarkana, $40 million for
an academic and student service building;
(5) West Texas A&M University:
(A) $43 million for an agricultural sciences
complex; and
(B) $10 million for the Amarillo Center Phase II;
(6) The Texas A&M University System Health Science
Center:
(A) $80 million for a multidisciplinary research
and education facility in Bryan, Texas; and
(B) $80 million for the A&M Baylor College of
Dentistry facility in Dallas, Texas;
(7) Texas A&M International University:
(A) $62.1 million for library addition and
renovation; and
(B) $66 million for repurpose of kinesiology
building;
(8) Prairie View A&M University:
(A) $30,790,000 for a fabrication center and
capital improvements; and
(B) $10 million for the Innovation
Commercialization Center for Entrepreneurs facility;
(9) Tarleton State University:
(A) $55 million for the Southwest Metroplex
Building; and
(B) $75 million for an applied sciences building;
(10) Texas A&M University:
(A) $85 million for a biocontainment research
facility level 3; and
(B) $90 million for classroom building and
renewal;
(11) Texas A&M University at Galveston, $92 million
for expansion of instructional facilities, infrastructure and
central plant;
(12) Texas A&M University--Central Texas, $40 million
for multi-purpose building III; and
(13) Texas A&M University--San Antonio:
(A) $70 million for a science and technology
academic building; and
(B) $16.5 million for central plant.
(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. 55.1782. 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 Austin:
(A) $100 million for Welch Hall renovation; and
(B) $105 million for McCombs School of Business
renovation;
(2) The University of Texas--Rio Grande Valley:
(A) $50.6 million for a multipurpose academic
center;
(B) $45 million for coastal studies center
facility;
(C) $42.5 million for interdisciplinary
engineering and academic studies building;
(D) $50.4 million for fine arts and classroom
building; and
(E) $54.7 million for student success and
administrative building;
(3) The University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center, $109.8 million for vivarium and aging research
infrastructure reinvestment;
(4) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
San Antonio, $114 million for facilities renewal and modernization;
(5) The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center, $70 million for a personalized cancer care building;
(6) The University of Texas Medical Branch at
Galveston, $67.8 million for a health education center;
(7) The University of Texas at Arlington:
(A) $190 million for science and engineering
innovation research building; and
(B) $99 million for college of nursing and allied
health professions academic and research building;
(8) The University of Texas at Dallas:
(A) $99 million for an engineering building; and
(B) $95 million for a science building;
(9) The University of Texas at El Paso:
(A) $117 million for an interdisciplinary
research facility; and
(B) $94.5 million for college of business
administration complex;
(10) The University of Texas at San Antonio:
(A) $95 million for instructional science and
engineering building; and
(B) $42.5 million for the Flawn Science Building
renovation;
(11) The University of Texas at Tyler, $76 million for
a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics building
expansion and renovation;
(12) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Houston:
(A) $123.9 million for the renovation and
modernization of educational and research facilities; and
(B) $91 million for academic and research
building;
(13) The University of Texas Health Science Center at
Tyler, $15 million for facilities renewal and modernization; and
(14) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin:
(A) $60 million for a School of Engineering
building; and
(B) $6,250,600 for a kinesiology and athletic
training complex;
(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. 55.1783. 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:
(A) $165 million for health and biomedical
sciences center 2; and
(B) $91,350,000 for an academic building in Sugar
Land, Texas;
(2) the University of Houston--Clear Lake:
(A) $120 million for a science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics and classroom building; and
(B) $34.2 million for a health sciences and
classroom building;
(3) the University of Houston--Downtown, $108.7
million for a science and technology building; and
(4) the University of Houston--Victoria, $166 million
for academic campus expansion and land acquisition.
(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. 55.1784. 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 University, $72 million for a science and
technology building;
(2) Lamar State College--Orange, $12.5 million for a
multipurpose education building;
(3) Lamar State College--Port Arthur, $9.6 million for
technology building expansion;
(4) Lamar Institute of Technology:
(A) $12.5 million for repair and renovation of
the technical arts buildings; and
(B) $12.1 million for a student services learning
support center;
(5) Texas State University:
(A) $67.5 million for a health professions
building in Round Rock, Texas; and
(B) $107 million for an engineering and science
building;
(6) Sam Houston State University, $60 million for a
biology laboratory building; and
(7) Sul Ross State University:
(A) $7.8 million for renovation and
modernization of educational facilities and infrastructure; and
(B) $8,452,000 for the Briscoe Administration
Building renovation.
(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. 55.1785. 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 System, $56 million
for College of Law building renovations;
(2) the University of North Texas:
(A) $82.8 million for a college of visual arts
and design facility; and
(B) $88.2 million for a science and technology
research building;
(3) the University of North Texas at Dallas, $70
million for a student learning and success center; and
(4) the University of North Texas Health Science
Center at Fort Worth, $96.8 million for an interdisciplinary
research 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 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. 55.1786. TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY. (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 an
experiential learning and training 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
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. 55.1787. MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY; ADDITIONAL
BONDS. (a) In addition to the other authority granted by this
subchapter, the board of regents of Midwestern State University may
acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip
property and facilities, including roads and related
infrastructure, for academic expansion and revitalization at
Midwestern State University, to be financed through the issuance of
bonds in accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the
aggregate principal amount of $73 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
Midwestern 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. 55.1788. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY. (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 a
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research
building at Stephen F. Austin State University, to be financed
through the issuance of bonds in accordance with this subchapter,
not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of $58 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. 55.1789. 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 Health Sciences Center:
(A) $75,330,000 for Lubbock education, research,
and technology facilities;
(B) $17,820,000 for the Permian Basin academic
facility in Odessa, Texas; and
(C) $6,350,000 for the Amarillo Panhandle
clinical/hospital simulation center in Amarillo, Texas;
(2) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El
Paso:
(A) $84,960,000 for the El Paso Medical Science
Building II; and
(B) $30,960,000 for the El Paso Clinical Science
Building;
(3) Texas Tech University:
(A) $87,930,000 for Experimental Science
Building II; and
(B) $60,840,000 for College of Engineering
expansion and renovation; and
(4) Angelo State University, $24,030,000 for a College
of Health and Human Services 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. 55.17891. 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 the Robert J. Terry Library at Texas Southern
University, to be financed through the issuance of bonds in
accordance with this subchapter, not to exceed the aggregate
principal amount of $70,250,000.
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of bonds
authorized by this section all or any part of the revenue funds of
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. 55.17892. 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
institutions, not to exceed the following aggregate principal
amounts for the projects specified, as follows:
(1) Texas State Technical College--Harlingen,
$3,750,000 for engineering center expansion and renovation;
(2) Texas State Technical College--Marshall, $13.8
million for the North Texas technology building;
(3) Texas State Technical College--Waco, $14,950,000
for Fort Bend Technical Center Building Two; and
(4) Texas State Technical College--West Texas, $12
million for the Abilene Industrial Technology Center.
(b) The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of those
bonds 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 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, 2015.