BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 495 By: Hunter, Bob 3-30-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The current law under Section 51.213 provides clear direction to public colleges and universities seeking to dispose of abandoned or unclaimed personal property. There is no law which provides the same direction for private institutions of higher education. It is important that private institutions be given similar authority in order to properly dispose of abandoned or unclaimed personal property. PURPOSE This legislation will extend to private institutions the same authority granted to state institutions in the disposition of abandoned or unclaimed personal property. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51B, Education Code, by adding Section 51.213 (b) to read as follows: Sec. 51.213. ABANDONED PERSONAL PROPERTY. (b) Authorizes the governing boards of private institutions the same authority granted to state institutions with the disposition of abandoned or unclaimed personal property. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION H.B. 495 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on March 28, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 3 absent.