BILL ANALYSIS


                                                          H.B. 85
                                              By: Hunter (Bivins)
                                                        Education
                                                         04-20-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

In 1987, the 70th Legislature mandated that the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board "develop a statewide
telecommunications network among institutions of higher education
for integrated teaching and data transmission and computation."

In 1994, the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on
Education and Health and Human Services charged the coordinating
board to study and make recommendations for taking full advantage
of telecommunications and other electronic technologies in medical
and health education.  Due to the fast-paced nature of the changes
in the field of technology, there are numerous policy questions
that each institution and the coordinating board needs to address.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 85 requires the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board to develop a comprehensive master plan regarding
distance learning and other applications of instructional
technology for public institutions of higher education.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 61C, Education Code, by adding Section
61.0771, as follows:

     Sec.  61.0771.  DISTANCE LEARNING MASTER PLAN.  (a)  Requires
     the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board), in
     cooperation with institutions of higher education, to develop
     a master plan for the development of distance learning and
     other applications of instructional electronic technology by
     institutions of higher education.  Requires the plan to
     include certain recommendations.
     
     (b)  Authorizes the board to include in the plan any related
       recommendation the board considers appropriate, including
       recommendations for coordination of distance learning with
       other telecommunications activities and services conducted
       by government agencies or private entities.
       
       (c)  Requires the board to create an advisory committee
       (committee) consisting of experts in distance learning,
       including school administrators and faculty and lay persons
       to assist in the development of the plan.  Sets forth the
       composition of and method of appointment to the committee.
       
       (d)  Authorizes the committee to request the cooperation or
       participation of state agencies, public broadcasting
       stations, representatives of the local and long-distance
       telecommunications industries, and representatives providing
       distance learning equipment or services, including computer
       hardware and software, in preparing the master plan.
       
       (e)  Requires the board to approve the master plan and
       present it to the legislature by December 31, 1996. 
       Requires the plan to include a summary of the then-current
       uses of distance learning and other instructional electronic
       technologies by institutions of higher education and of the
       plans of those institutions to implement, improve, or expand
       the use of distance learning and other instructional
       technologies.  Authorizes the board to revise the master
       plan at any subsequent time as the board considers
       appropriate.  SECTION 2.    Emergency clause.
           Effective date:  90 days after adjournment.