BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4997

By: Kuempel

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Texas State Technical College (TSTC) currently operates 10 locations across the state of Texas, three of which opened within the last 15 years, and offers more than 40 programs. Owing to TSTC's unique returned value funding model, which ties TSTC's funding to its job placement rate and wages of TSTC students, TSTC focuses its program mix on high-wage jobs in high-demand fields and builds its curricula around the skills necessary for TSTC students to obtain and keep those jobs. As a result, TSTC locations are in high demand among Texas employers and communities for the key role they play in economic development.

The New Braunfels and Seguin chambers of commerce have expressed an interest in hosting a new TSTC campus to serve area employers and to provide training to area residents that will result in rewarding careers with high wages. However, TSTC may not open a new campus unless one is assigned to the TSTC system by specific legislation. H.B. 4997 seeks to authorize a TSTC campus operating one or more locations in Comal and Guadalupe Counties.

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. 4997 amends the Education Code to expand the composition of the Texas State Technical College System to include a campus that operates as a collective unit of one or more locations in Comal County and Guadalupe County.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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