BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1465 By: Coleman 03-06-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Houston Community College System (HCCS) -- Central College is located on a 25 acre campus near downtown Houston. The campus is divided in half by Austin Street which runs North-South for two blocks. The San Jacinto Memorial Building and the Fine Arts Center-two of the campus' main buildings-are located on either side of Austin Street. Traffic in this area creates a perilous situation for hundreds of students, including many students with disabilities. Winbern is an East/West street running for one block between the college parking garage and a surface parking lot. Excessive pedestrian traffic takes place as students and staff cross the street to attend class. The City of Houston supports this legislation. The city requested that they be allowed emergency access to which the college has agreed. Legislation is needed to close these two streets in order to eliminate this dangerous traffic-pedestrian hazard. Current legislation does not qualify community colleges to close streets. Current law authorizes state-supported colleges (not community colleges) and universities in counties of populations over 2 million to close streets that are abutted by college/university- owned property. Houston Community College System -Central College owns all of the property abutting these streets. PURPOSE The purpose of this legislation is to close two streets that run through the Central College campus of Houston Community College. Closing these streets will eliminate a serious traffic/pedestrian situation on the campus. 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 51 Z, Education Code, by amending Section 51.904 to read as follows: Sec. 51.904. STREET CLOSING. Eliminating the words "state supported college or university" and adding the words "an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003". SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION H.B. 1465 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on March 14, 1995. The following person testified in favor of the bill: Dr. James Engle, President, HCCS-Central College. 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 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 1 absent.