BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3287

By: Anderson

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texas State Technical College (TSTC) currently operates locations across the state, but most of TSTC's campuses are authorized to operate only within a particular city limits. For example, TSTC's Waco campus is authorized to operate only "in the city of Waco in McLennan County." This specificity in statute presents a barrier to campus growth because, as is often the case, the nearest available suitable property for a proposed TSTC facility is just outside of a particular city limits. H.B. 3287 seeks to address this issue by authorizing certain TSTC campuses to operate anywhere in the counties in which they are located. This will afford TSTC the flexibility to grow its campuses across the state.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3287 amends the Education Code to authorize the Texas State Technical College System to operate its campus in the following counties, rather than operating in the county only at a system campus or location in the applicable city, as follows:

· Cameron County, rather than operating only at a campus located in the city of Harlingen;

· as a collective unit of strategically positioned permanent locations, Nolan County, Taylor County, Brown County, and Stephens County, rather than operating only in, respectively, the cities of Sweetwater, Abilene, Brownwood, and Breckenridge;

· Harrison County, rather than operating only at a campus located in the city of Marshall;

· McLennan County, rather than operating only at a campus located in the city of Waco; and

· as a collective unit of one or more locations in Ellis County, rather than operating in the county only at a campus located in the city of Red Oak.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.