Message - June 15, 2007

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EIGHTIETH TEXAS LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION:

Pursuant to Article IV, Sections 14 and 15 of the Texas Constitution, I, Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, do hereby disapprove and veto House Bill No. 317 of the 80th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, due to the following objections:

House Bill No. 317 would repeal sections of the Texas Education Code that set enrollment requirements for the issuance of tuition revenue bonds (TRBs) for three small branch campuses, or "centers." The bill as filed would lower enrollment requirements for Tarleton State University System Center - Central Texas. House Bill No. 317 was amended to remove requirements completely for that center, as well as the University of North Texas System Center at Dallas and the Texas A&M University System Center at San Antonio.

The TRBs for the centers were authorized during the Third Called Special Session of the 79th Legislature with the understanding that the enrollment requirement necessary for their issuance would be set at 1,500 students for one semester, at which point they would have already become stand-alone institutions of higher education. It is my position that the centers should reach stand-alone status prior to the issuance of TRBs.

Furthermore, the centers have not experienced significant growth. In fact, their enrollment has remained relatively flat. This indicates that the centers are appropriately serving their area's educational needs without additional facilities. The repeal of the enrollment requirements necessary for the issuance of TRBs would result in greater state appropriations and sets a bad precedent for the future.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this the 15th day of June, 2007.

RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas

ATTESTED BY:
ROGER WILLIAMS
Secretary of State