BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1250
By: Cook
02-15-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

During the 73rd Regular Session of the Legislature, Senate Bill 485
was adopted which requires the members of the governing boards of
institutions of higher education to attend a training seminar in
Austin within the first two years of service.  The Senate Bill made
no provision for an alternative method of complying with this
training requirement.  As a result, a hardship has been placed on
governing board members from rural and distant areas to attend the
seminar in Austin.


PURPOSE

This legislation proposes to allow the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board to develop alternative means for members of
governing boards to comply with the training requirement under the
Education Code, Article 61.083.


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 61 C, Education Code, Section
61.083 by renumbering as Section 61.084 to read as follows:

           Sec. 61.084.  TRAINING FOR MEMBERS OF GOVERNING BOARDS. 
(a) Requires the attendance at a training program rather than a
seminar.

(b) This section eliminates the two-day provision of the seminar. 
In addition, it provides that the board "may" rather than "shall"
obtain assistance from certain state agencies in providing the
training program.  And, the subsection allows the board to
prescribe an alternative training program for members of governing
boards for whom attendance would be a hardship.

(c) Deletes "seminar" and replaces it with "training program".
     
(d) Deletes "seminar" and replaces it with "training program".  The
subsection also indicates that the board may include other topics:
           
     (1)  Deletes redundant language as to the required content of
the training program.

     (2)  Deletes redundant language as to the required content of
the training program.

     (3)  Renumbers subsection B as subsection 3.
           
     (4)  Renumbers subsection C as subsection 4.  Deletes
subsection D.
     
     (5)  Renumbers subsection E as subsection 5.
           
     (6)  Renumbers subsection F as subsection 6.  This subsection
adds Chapter 551 and Chapter 552, Government Code, and deletes the
citations from the Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes.

     (7)  Renumbers subsection G as subsection 7.

     (8)  Renumbers subsection H as subsection 8. 

     (9)  Allows the board to include any other topic relating to
higher education that the board considers important.

           SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1995.

           SECTION 3. Emergency clause.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 1250 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on
February 28, 1995.  The following person testified in favor of the
H.B. 1250:  Mr. Jim Puryear, Board Member, Cisco Jr. College.  The
Chair recognized Representative Kamel who moved that the bill be
reported favorably with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent
Calendars.  The motion prevailed by a record vote of 6 ayes, 0
nays, 0 pnv, and 3 absent.