By: Perry	S.B. No. 907
	(In the Senate - Filed March 3, 2015; March 9, 2015, read
	first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
	March 23, 2015, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
	Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; March 23, 2015,
	sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 907	By:  West

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the powers and duties of the board of regents of the
	Texas Tech University System and to workers' compensation coverage
	for employees of the system's components.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter A, Chapter 109,
	Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
	SECTION 2.  Section 109.001, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  The board of regents of the Texas Tech University System
	may accept, retain in depositories of its choosing, and administer,
	on terms and conditions acceptable to the board, gifts, grants, or
	donations of any kind, from any source, for use by the system or any
	of the component institutions of the system.
	SECTION 3.  Sections 109.21, 109.22, and 109.23, Education
	Code, are transferred to Subchapter A, Chapter 109, Education Code,
	redesignated as Sections 109.002, 109.003, and 109.004, Education
	Code, and amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 109.002 [109.21].  BOARD OF REGENTS. The government,
	control, and direction of the policies of the university system and
	the component institutions are vested in a board of nine regents,
	who shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent
	of the senate.
	Sec. 109.003 [109.22].  BOARD MEMBERS: TERMS, VACANCIES.
	Members of the board will [Except for the initial appointees,
	members] hold office for staggered [of] terms of six years, with the
	terms of three members expiring on January 31 of odd-numbered
	years. [In making the initial appointments, the governor shall
	designate three for terms expiring in 1971, three for terms
	expiring in 1973, and three for terms expiring in 1975.] Any
	vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by
	appointment by the governor with the advice and consent of the
	senate.
	Sec. 109.004 [109.23].  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER:
	SELECTION, DUTIES. The board shall appoint [provide] a chief
	executive officer, who shall devote the officer's [his] attention
	to the executive management of the university system and who shall
	be directly accountable to the board for the conduct of the
	university system. The board, when required by law to be the
	governing body of any other state educational institution or
	facility, shall also direct the chief executive officer to be
	directly responsible for the executive management of that other
	institution or facility.
	SECTION 4.  The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 109,
	Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES [ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS]
	SECTION 5.  Sections 109.41, 109.42, 109.48, and 109.54,
	Education Code, are transferred to Subchapter B, Chapter 109,
	Education Code, redesignated as Sections 109.051, 109.052,
	109.053, and 109.054, Education Code, and amended to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 109.051 [109.41].  EMINENT DOMAIN. The board of
	regents has the power of eminent domain to acquire land needed to
	carry out the purposes of the university system and the component
	institutions.
	Sec. 109.052 [109.42].  RESIDENCES FOR CHANCELLOR AND
	PRESIDENTS [RESIDENCE FOR PRESIDENT]. The board may purchase a
	house or may purchase land and construct a house suitable for the
	residence of the chancellor of the university system or a president
	of a component [the] university.
	Sec. 109.053 [109.48].  UTILITIES EASEMENTS. On terms,
	conditions, stipulations, and compensation as determined by the
	board, the board may convey, dedicate, or use any other appropriate
	method of conveyance to grant, convey, or dedicate rights, title,
	rights-of-way, or easements involving or in connection with the
	furnishing or providing of electricity, water, sewage disposal,
	natural gas, telephone, telegraph, or other utility service on,
	over, or through the campuses [campus] of the Texas Tech University
	System and the component institutions [in Lubbock County]. The
	chairman of the board may execute and deliver conveyances or
	dedications on behalf of the university system and the component
	institutions [Texas Tech University].
	Sec. 109.054 [109.54].  MANAGEMENT OF LANDS. The board has
	the sole and exclusive management and control of lands set aside and
	appropriated to or acquired by the institutions under its
	governance. The board may lease, sell, exchange, acquire, dispose
	of, and otherwise manage, control, and use the lands in any manner
	and at prices and under terms and conditions the board deems best
	for the interest of the institutions. However, the board may not
	sell any of the original main campus of Texas Tech University
	located in Lubbock, Lubbock County, unless the sale is approved by
	act of the legislature. No grazing lease shall be made for a period
	of more than five years.
	SECTION 6.  The heading to Subchapter C, Chapter 109,
	Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER C. TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY [POWERS AND DUTIES]
	SECTION 7.  Section 109.01, Education Code, is transferred
	to Subchapter C, Chapter 109, Education Code, and redesignated as
	Section 109.101, Education Code, to read as follows:
	Sec. 109.101 [109.01].  TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY. Texas Tech
	University is a coeducational institution of higher education
	located in the city of Lubbock.
	SECTION 8.  Sections 109.43, 109.45, and 109.52, Education
	Code, are redesignated as Sections 109.102, 109.103, and 109.104,
	Education Code, and amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 109.102 [109.43].  DORMITORIES: RULES AND
	REGULATIONS. The board may adopt rules and regulations it deems
	advisable requiring any class or classes of students to reside in
	university dormitories or other buildings.
	Sec. 109.103 [109.45].  [CITY] MUSEUM. (a)  The board may
	establish [rent, lease, or convey, for a sum of money to be
	determined by the board, a part of the campus, not to exceed four
	acres, to the city of Lubbock for the sole purpose of building, with
	bonds or current city taxes, and maintaining with city tax money,] a
	history, science, and art museum.
	(b)  The board may provide [rent or lease] a building or any
	part of a building [on the parcel of land to the city of Lubbock] for
	the sole purpose of maintaining a history, science, and art museum
	[for a sum of money to be determined by the board].
	[(c)     The board may dedicate for public use a street or
	streets leading to and connecting the parcel of land and building
	and to provide ingress and egress to and from a public highway and
	to and from adjacent parking lots.
	[(d)     The board, at its discretion, may contract with the
	city of Lubbock for the staffing, operation, and maintenance of a
	history and art museum with funds provided by the city of Lubbock.
	[(e)     The board may enter into contracts and agreements which
	are necessary and proper for carrying out the provisions of this
	section, provided that no expenditure of money by the board shall be
	made except as may be appropriated by the legislature.]
	Sec. 109.104 [109.52].  DONATIONS, GIFTS, GRANTS, AND
	ENDOWMENTS. The board may accept donations, gifts, grants, and
	endowments for Texas Tech University to be held for the benefit of
	the institution [in trust] and administered by the board.
	SECTION 9.  Subchapter D, Chapter 109, Education Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER D. MINERAL DEVELOPMENT IN UNIVERSITY LAND
	Sec. 109.151 [109.61].  MINERAL LEASES; DISPOSITION OF
	PROCEEDS. (a)  The board may lease for oil, gas, sulphur, or other
	mineral development to the highest bidder at public auction all or
	part of the lands under the exclusive control of the board owned by
	the State of Texas and acquired for the use of Texas Tech University
	and its divisions.
	(b)  Any money received by virtue of this section shall be
	deposited in a special fund managed by the board to be known as the
	Texas Tech University special mineral fund. Money in the fund is
	considered to be institutional funds, as defined by Section 51.009,
	of the university and is to be used exclusively for the university
	[and its branches and divisions]. All deposits in and investments
	of the fund shall be made in accordance with Section 51.0031.
	Section 34.017, Natural Resources Code, does not apply to the fund.
	Sec. 109.152 [109.62].  MAJORITY OF BOARD TO ACT. A
	majority of the board has power to act in all cases under this
	subchapter except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.
	Sec. 109.153 [109.63].  SUBDIVISION OF LAND; TITLES.
	(a)  The board may have the lands surveyed or subdivided into
	tracts, lots, or blocks which, in its [their] judgment, will be most
	conducive and convenient to an advantageous sale or lease of oil,
	gas, sulphur, or other minerals in and under and that may be
	produced from the lands; and the board may make maps and plats which
	it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.
	(b)  The board may obtain authentic abstracts of title to the
	lands from time to time as it deems necessary and may take necessary
	steps to perfect a merchantable title to the lands.
	Sec. 109.154 [109.64].  SALE OF LEASES; ADVERTISEMENTS;
	PAYMENTS. (a)  Whenever in the opinion of the board there is a
	demand for the purchase of oil, gas, sulphur, or other mineral
	leases on any tract or part of any tract of land which can be [will]
	reasonably expected to result in [insure] an advantageous sale, the
	board shall place the oil, gas, sulphur, or other mineral leases on
	the land on the market in a tract or tracts, or any part of a tract,
	which the board may designate.
	(b)  The board shall have advertised a brief description of
	the land from which the oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals is
	proposed to be leased. The advertisement shall be made by
	publishing [inserting] in two or more papers of general circulation
	in this state, and in addition, the board may, in its discretion,
	cause the advertisement to be placed in an oil and gas journal
	published in and out of the state. The board may also mail copies of
	the proposals to the county judge of the county where the lands are
	located and to other persons the board believes would be
	interested.
	(c)  The board may sell the lease or leases to the highest
	bidder at public auction [at the university in Lubbock at any hour
	between 10 a. m. and 5 p. m].
	(d)  The highest bidder shall pay to the board on the day of
	the sale 25 percent of the bonus bid, and the balance of the bid
	shall be paid within 24 hours after the bidder is notified that the
	bid has been accepted. Payments shall be made in cash, certified
	check, [or] cashier's check, or electronic payment, as the board
	directs. The failure of the bidder to pay the balance of the amount
	bid will forfeit to the board the 25 percent of the bonus bid paid.
	Sec. 109.155 [109.65].  SEPARATE BIDS; MINIMUM ROYALTY;
	DELAY RENTAL. (a)  A separate bid shall be made for each tract or
	subdivision of a tract.
	(b)  No bid shall be accepted which offers a royalty of less
	than one-eighth of the gross production of oil, gas, sulphur, and
	other minerals in the land bid upon. The board may increase[, and]
	this minimum royalty [may be increased] at the discretion of the
	board.
	(c)  Every bid shall carry the obligation to pay an amount
	not less than $5 [$1] per acre for delay in drilling or development.
	The amount shall be fixed by the board in advance of the
	advertisement. The delay rental [amount fixed] shall be paid every
	year for five years unless in the meantime production in paying
	quantities is had upon the land or the land is released by the
	lessee.
	Sec. 109.156 [109.66].  REJECTION OF BIDS; WITHDRAWAL OF
	LAND. The board may reject any and all bids and may withdraw any
	land advertised for lease.
	Sec. 109.157 [109.67].  ACCEPTANCE; CONDITIONS AND
	PROVISIONS OF LEASE. (a)  If, in the opinion of the board, [any one
	of] the highest bidder [bidders] has offered a reasonable and
	proper price for any tract, which is not less than the price set by
	the board, the lands advertised may be leased for oil, gas, sulphur,
	and other mineral purposes under the terms of this section and
	subject to regulations prescribed by the board which are not
	inconsistent with the provisions of this section. In the event no
	bid is accepted by the board at public auction, any subsequent
	procedure for the sale of the leases shall be in the manner
	prescribed in the preceding sections.
	(b)  No lease shall be made by the board which will permit the
	drilling or mining for oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals within
	500 [300] feet of any building or structure on the land without the
	consent of the board. In making any lease on any experimental
	station or farm, the lease shall provide that the operations for
	oil, gas, and other minerals shall not in any way interfere with use
	of the land for university purposes and shall not cause the
	abandonment of the property or its use for experimental farm
	purposes. The lease shall also provide that the lessee operating
	the property shall drill and carry on the lessee's [his] operations
	in such a way as not to interfere with uses [cause the abandonment]
	of the property for university purposes, and the leased property
	shall be subject to the use by the state for all university
	purposes[, and the board shall continue to operate the university].
	Sec. 109.158 [109.68].  ACCEPTANCE AND FILING OF BIDS;
	[YEARLY PAYMENTS;] TERMINATION OF LEASE. (a)  If the board
	determines that a satisfactory bid has been received for the oil,
	gas, sulphur, or other mineral lands, it shall accept the bid and
	reject all others and shall file the accepted bid in the general
	land office.
	(b)  [Whenever the royalties shall amount to as much as the
	yearly payments fixed by the board, the yearly payments may be
	discontinued.
	[(c)] If before the expiration of five years oil, gas,
	sulphur, or other minerals have not been produced in paying
	quantities, the lease shall terminate unless extended as provided
	in Sections 109.160 [109.70] and 109.161 [109.71 of this code].
	Sec. 109.159 [109.69].  AWARD AND FILING OF LEASE. If the
	board determines that a satisfactory bid has been received for the
	oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals, it shall make an award to the
	bidder offering the highest price, and a lease shall be filed in the
	general land office.
	Sec. 109.160 [109.70].  EXPLORATORY TERM OF LEASE;
	EXTENSION; OTHER PROVISIONS. (a)  The exploratory term of a lease
	as determined by the board prior to the promulgation of the
	advertisement shall not exceed five years, and each lease shall
	provide that the lease will terminate at the expiration of its
	exploratory term unless by unanimous vote of the board the lease is
	extended for a period not to exceed [of] three years.
	(b)  [The lease may be extended if the board finds that there
	is a likelihood of oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals being
	discovered by the lessees, and that the lessees have proceeded with
	diligence to protect the interest of the state.] If oil, gas,
	sulphur, or other minerals are being produced in paying quantities
	from the premises, the lease shall continue in force and effect as
	long as the oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals are being so
	produced. No extension may be made by the board until the last 30
	days of the original term of the lease.
	(c)  The lease shall include additional provisions and
	regulations prescribed by the board to preserve the interest of the
	state, not inconsistent with the provisions of this subchapter.
	Sec. 109.161 [109.71].  EXTENSION OF LEASES. When in the
	discretion of the board it is deemed for the best interest of the
	state to extend a lease issued by the board, the board may by
	unanimous vote extend the lease for a period not to exceed three
	years, on the condition that the lessee shall continue to pay yearly
	rental as provided in the lease and shall comply with any additional
	terms [which] the board requires [may see fit and proper to demand].
	The board may extend the lease and execute an extension agreement.
	Sec. 109.162 [109.72].  CONTROL OF DRILLING AND PRODUCTION.
	The drilling for and the production of oil, gas, and other minerals
	from the lands shall be governed and controlled by the Railroad
	Commission of Texas and other applicable regulatory bodies which
	govern and control other fields in this state.
	Sec. 109.163 [109.73].  DRILLING OPERATIONS: SUSPENSION OF
	RENT; CONTINUANCE OF LEASE; DUTY TO PREVENT DRAINAGE. (a)  If
	during the term of a lease issued under the provisions of this
	subchapter the lessee is engaged in actual drilling operations for
	the discovery of oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals, no rentals
	shall be payable as to the tract on which the operations are being
	conducted as long as the operations are proceeding in a good and
	workmanlike manner in a good faith attempt to produce oil, gas,
	sulphur, or other minerals from the well [faith].
	(b)  In the event oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals are
	discovered in paying quantities on any tract of land covered by a
	lease, then the lease as to that tract shall remain in force as long
	as oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals are produced in paying
	quantities from the tract.
	(c)  In the event of the discovery of oil, gas, sulphur, or
	other minerals on any tract covered by a lease or on any land
	adjoining the tract, the lessee shall conduct such operations as
	may be necessary to prevent drainage from the tract covered by the
	lease to properly develop the same to the extent that a reasonably
	prudent individual [man] would do under the same and similar
	circumstances.
	Sec. 109.164 [109.74].  TITLE TO RIGHTS PURCHASED;
	ASSIGNMENT; RELINQUISHMENT. (a)  Title to all rights purchased
	may be held by the lessee [owners] as long as the area produces oil,
	gas, sulphur, or other minerals in paying quantities.
	(b)  All rights purchased may be assigned. All assignments
	shall be filed in the general land office as prescribed by rule,
	accompanied by 10 cents per acre for each acre assigned and the
	filing fee as prescribed by rule. An assignment shall not be
	effective unless filed as required by rule.
	(c)  All rights to all or any part of a leased tract may be
	released to the state at any time by recording a release instrument
	in the county or counties in which the tract is located. Releases
	shall also be filed with the chairman of the board and the general
	land office, accompanied by the filing fee prescribed by rule. A
	release shall not relieve the lessee [owner] of any obligations or
	liabilities incurred prior to the release.
	(d)  The board shall authorize any required infrastructure,
	including [the laying of pipeline and telephone line and] the
	opening of roads deemed reasonably necessary in carrying out the
	purposes of this subchapter.
	Sec. 109.165 [109.75].  PAYMENT OF ROYALTIES; RECORDS;
	REPORT OF RECEIPTS. (a)  If oil, gas, or other minerals are
	developed on any of the lands leased by the board, the royalty as
	stipulated in the sale shall be paid to the general land office in
	Austin on or before the last day of each month for the preceding
	month during the life of the rights purchased. The royalty payments
	shall be set aside as specified in Section 109.151 [109.61] and used
	as provided in that section.
	(b)  The royalty paid to the general land office shall be
	accompanied by the sworn statement of the lessee [owner], manager,
	or other authorized agent showing the gross amount of oil, gas,
	sulphur, or other minerals produced and sold off the premises and
	the market value of the minerals, together with a copy of all daily
	gauges, or vats, tanks, gas meter readings, pipeline receipts, gas
	line receipts, and other checks and memoranda of the amounts
	produced and put into pipelines, vats, tanks, or pool and gas lines
	or gas storage. The books and accounts, receipts and discharges of
	all wells, tanks, vats, pools, meters, and pipelines, and all
	contracts and other records pertaining to the production,
	transportation, sale, and marketing of the oil, gas, sulphur, or
	other minerals shall at all times be subject to inspection and
	examination by any member of the board or any duly authorized
	representative of the board.
	(c)  The commissioner of the general land office shall tender
	to the board on or before the 10th day of each month a report of all
	receipts that are collected from the lease or sale of oil, gas,
	sulphur, or other minerals and that are deposited in the special
	fund as provided by Section 109.151 [109.61] during the preceding
	month.
	Sec. 109.166 [109.76].  PROTECTION FROM DRAINAGE;
	FORFEITURE OF RIGHTS. (a)  In every case where the area in which
	oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals sold is contiguous or adjacent
	to lands which are not lands belonging to and held by the
	university, the acceptance of the bid and the sale made thereby
	shall constitute an obligation of the lessee [owner] to adequately
	protect the land leased from drainage from the adjacent lands to the
	extent that a reasonably prudent operator would do under the same
	and similar circumstances.
	(b)  In cases where the area in which the oil, gas, sulphur,
	or other minerals sold is contiguous to other lands belonging to and
	held by the university which have been leased or sold at a lesser
	royalty, the lessee [owner] shall protect the land from drainage
	from the lands leased or sold for a lesser royalty.
	(c)  On failure to protect the land from drainage as provided
	in this section, the sale and all rights acquired may be forfeited
	by the board in the manner provided in Section 109.167 [109.77 of
	this code] for forfeitures.
	Sec. 109.167 [109.77].  FORFEITURE AND OTHER REMEDIES;
	LIENS. (a)  Leases granted under the provisions of this chapter
	are subject to forfeiture by the board by an order entered in the
	minutes of the board reciting the acts or omissions constituting a
	default and declaring a forfeiture.
	(b)  Any of the following acts or omissions constitutes a
	default:
	(1)  the failure or refusal by the lessee [owner] of the
	rights acquired under this chapter to make a payment of a sum due,
	either as rental or royalty on production, within 30 days after the
	payment becomes due;
	(2)  the making of a false return or false report
	concerning production, royalty, drilling, or mining by the lessee
	[owner] or the lessee's [his] authorized agent;
	(3)  the failure or refusal of the lessee [owner] or the
	lessee's [his] agent to drill an offset well or wells in good faith,
	as required by the lease;
	(4)  the refusal of the lessee [owner] or the lessee's
	[his] agent to allow the proper authorities access to the records
	and other data pertaining to the operations authorized in this
	subchapter;
	(5)  the failure or refusal of the lessee [owner] or the
	lessee's [his] authorized agent to give correct information to the
	proper authorities, or to furnish the log of any well within 30 days
	after production is found in paying quantities; or
	(6)  the violation by the lessee [owner] of any
	material term of the lease.
	(c)  The board may, if it so desires, have suit for
	forfeiture instituted through the attorney general.
	(d)  On proper showing by the forfeiting lessee [owner]
	within 30 days after the declaration of forfeiture, the lease may be
	reinstated at the discretion of the board and upon terms prescribed
	by the board.
	(e)  In case of violation by the lessee [owner] of the lease
	contract, the remedy of forfeiture shall not be the exclusive
	remedy, and the state may institute suit for damages or specific
	performance or both.
	(f)  The state shall have a first lien on oil, gas, sulphur,
	or other minerals produced or that may be produced in the leased
	area, and on all rigs, tanks, vats, pipelines, telephone lines, and
	machinery and appliances used in the production and handling of
	oil, gas, sulphur, or other minerals produced, to secure the amount
	due from the lessee [owner of the lease].
	Sec. 109.168 [109.78].  FILING OF DOCUMENTS AND PAYMENT OF
	ROYALTIES, FEES, AND RENTALS. (a)  All surveys, files, copies of
	sale and lease contracts, and other records pertaining to the sales
	and leases authorized in this subchapter shall be filed in the
	general land office and shall constitute archives.
	(b)  Payment of all royalties, lease fees, rentals for delay
	in drilling or mining, filing fees for assignments and
	relinquishments, and all other payments shall be made to the
	commissioner of the general land office at Austin. The
	commissioner shall transmit all payments received to the board for
	deposit to the credit of the Texas Tech University special mineral
	fund as provided by Section 109.151 [109.61].
	Sec. 109.169 [109.79].  FORMS, REGULATIONS, RULES, AND
	CONTRACTS. The board shall adopt proper forms, regulations, rules,
	and contracts which, in its judgment, will protect the income from
	lands leased pursuant to this subchapter.
	Sec. 109.170 [109.80].  MANAGEMENT OF SURFACE AND MINERAL
	ESTATES. (a)  The board may lease for oil, gas, sulphur, ore,
	water, and other mineral development all land under its exclusive
	control for the use of the university. The board may make and enter
	into pooling agreements, division orders, or other contracts
	necessary in the management and development of its land.
	(b)  All leases, pooling agreements, division orders, or
	other contracts entered into by the board shall be on terms that the
	board considers in the best interest of the university. The board
	may not sell a lease for less than the royalty and rental terms
	demanded at that time by the General Land Office in connection with
	the sale of oil, gas, and other mineral leases of the public lands
	of this state.
	(c)  All money received under the leases and contracts
	executed for the management and development of the land, except
	revenue pledged to the payment of revenue bonds or notes, shall be
	deposited to the credit of a special fund created by the board. The
	board shall designate a depository for the special fund and protect
	the money deposited in it by the pledging of assets of the
	depository in the same manner as is required for the protection of
	public funds. Money deposited in the special fund may be used by
	the board for the administration of the university, for payment of
	principal of and interest on revenue bonds or notes issued by the
	board, and for any other purpose that in the judgment of the board
	may be for the good of the university.
	SECTION 10.  Sections 110.01, 110.02, 110.11, and 110.32,
	Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 110.01.  TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER;
	SEPARATE INSTITUTION. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
	is a separate institution and not a department, school, or branch of
	Texas Tech University but is under the direction, management, and
	control of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents. The
	center is composed of a medical school and other components
	assigned by law or by the coordinating board.
	Sec. 110.02.  CONCURRENT [AND SEPARATE] POWERS. The board
	of regents has the same powers of governance, control,
	jurisdiction, and management [direction, management, and control]
	over the Health Sciences Center as it exercises [they exercise]
	over Texas Tech University System and its components. [However,
	the board shall act separately and independently on all matters
	affecting the Health Sciences Center as a separate institution.]
	Sec. 110.11.  MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSION POLICIES. The board
	of regents [Board of Regents] shall promulgate appropriate rules
	and regulations pertaining to the admission of students to the
	medical school [which will provide for admission of those students
	to its entering class each year who are equally or as well qualified
	as all other students and who have entered a contract with or
	received a commitment for a stipend, grant, loan or scholarship
	from the State Rural Medical Education Board. The State Rural
	Medical Education Board may contract with medical students
	providing for such students to engage in a general or family
	practice of medicine for not less than four years after licensing
	and a period of medical residency, as determined by the rules and
	regulations established by the State Rural Medical Education Board,
	in cities of Texas which have a population of less than 5,000 or in
	rural areas, as that term may be defined by the State Rural Medical
	Education Board, and said Board is hereby given the authority to
	define and from time to time redefine the term rural area, at the
	time the medical practice is commenced. This contract shall
	provide for a monthly stipend of at least $100 to be granted by the
	State Rural Medical Education Board to each person under contract
	with the State while enrolled as a medical school student].
	Sec. 110.32.  CONCURRENT POWERS.  The board of regents has
	the same powers of governance, control, jurisdiction, and
	management [direction, management, and control] over the Texas Tech
	University Health Sciences Center at El Paso as the board of regents
	exercises over the other component institutions of the Texas Tech
	University System.
	SECTION 11.  The heading to Section 501.022, Labor Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 501.022.  EMPLOYEES OF COMPONENT INSTITUTIONS OR SYSTEM
	ADMINISTRATION OF TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
	SECTION 12.  Section 501.022, Labor Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read
	as follows:
	(a)  An eligible employee of Texas Tech University, Texas
	Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University,
	Texas Tech University System Administration, Texas Tech University
	Health Sciences Center at El Paso, or another agency under the
	direction and control of the board of regents of Texas Tech
	University System is entitled to participate in the workers'
	compensation program for state employees provided under this
	chapter.
	(e)  For purposes of this chapter, Texas Tech University
	System Administration is a state agency and shall act in the
	capacity of employer.
	(f)  For purposes of this chapter, Texas Tech University
	Health Sciences Center at El Paso is a state agency and shall act in
	the capacity of employer.
	SECTION 13.  The following provisions of the Education Code
	are repealed:
	(1)  Section 109.44;
	(2)  Section 109.46;
	(3)  Section 109.47;
	(4)  Section 109.49;
	(5)  Section 110.04; and
	(6)  Section 110.14.
	SECTION 14.  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.
	* * * * *