HBA-TBM H.J.R. 78 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.J.R. 78 By: Wilson Appropriations 4/2/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, one-third of the annual distribution from the permanent university fund (PUF) to the available university fund (AUF) is appropriated for The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS). The other two-thirds is earmarked for The University of Texas System. A portion of the money appropriated for TAMUS is used for the support and maintenance of Prairie View A&M University. This portion may not represent an equitable distribution of the income from the PUF. House Joint Resolution 78 requires money appropriated for Prairie View A&M University to be appropriated from The University of Texas System's share of the AUF. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Joint Resolution 78 amends the Texas Constitution to modify provisions requiring the appropriation of money from the available university fund (AUF) by the board of regents (board) of The Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) for the support and maintenance of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU). The resolution requires that one-half of the money appropriated from the AUF for the support and maintenance of The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas System administration be appropriated, after payments made on bonds and notes, for the support and maintenance of PVAMU. If that one-half portion is less than the amount of the remainder of the one-third of the annual distribution to the AUF appropriated to the board of regents of TAMUS, the board of regents of TAMUS shall make a just and equitable distribution of a portion of its appropriation to PVAMU. FOR ELECTION This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001. If the voters approve the amendment, H.J.R. 78 takes effect January 1, 2002.