BILL ANALYSIS



C.S.H.B. 2187
By: Kamel
04-27-95
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

Current law encourages upper-level universities or centers to enter
into partnerships with public community/junior colleges which are
located in the same service region as adopted by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.


PURPOSE

If enacted, C.S.H.B. 2187 allows the University of Texas at Tyler
to seek and expand partnership agreements authorized by Subchapter
N, Chapter 51 of this code.


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 76, Education Code, Section 76.02 to read
as follows: 
 
     Sec. 76.02.    (b)  If the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board approves an engineering degree program at the institution,
the institution may offer lower division courses relating to that
program if such courses are offered as part of a partnership
agreement entered into under Subchapter N, Chapter 51 of this code. 

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 76, Education Code, by adding Section
76.07 to read as follows:

     Sec. 76.07.  PARTNERSHIPS WITH JUNIOR COLLEGES AND OTHER
INSTITUTIONS.  (a)  Authorized by Subchapter N, Chapter 51 of this
code, the institution shall seek to build and expand partnership
agreements.  (b)  In developing programs and courses subject to a
partnership agreement, the institution shall take into account the
need in the service region to recruit minority and lower-income
students into degree-granting programs of institutions of higher
education.  (c)  The institutions shall take into account the cost
effectiveness and other impact such courses will have on students
likely to enroll in the courses as well as any impact such courses
will have on the community as a whole.  (d)  The Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall adopt a formula pursuant to its
duties and powers that applies the formula for four-year general
academic teaching institutions to all lower division semester
credit hours offered at the institution.

SECTION 3: Emergency clause.
           Effective date:  upon passage.






COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

In SECTION 1, the committee substitute amends section 76.02 which
is not referred to in the original bill.

In SECTION 2, while the committee substitute states that the
institution shall seek to build and expand partnership agreements,
the original bill states that the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board may enter into partnership agreements on behalf
of the university.

In Subsection (b), the committee substitute adds new language which
is not included in the original bill.  The subsection states that
in developing programs and courses the institution and any other
party to an agreement must take into account the need in the
service region to recruit minority and lower-income students into
degree-granting programs of institutions of higher education.

In Subsection (c), the committee substitute adds new language which
is not included in the original bill.  This subsection states that
the institution and any other party to a partnership agreement must
take into account the cost effectiveness and other impact such
courses will have on students likely to enroll in the courses as
well as any impact such courses will have on the community as a
whole.

In Subsection (d), the committee substitute adds new language which
is not included in the original bill.  This subsection states that
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board must adopt a formula
that applies the formula for four-year general academic teaching
institutions to all lower division semester credit hours offered at
the institution.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 2187 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on
April 11, 1995.

The committee considered a complete substitute for the bill.  

The following persons testified in favor of the bill:
Mr. Tom Mullins; and
Mr. A.W. Riter, Jr.

The following person testified neutrally on the bill:
Mr. William Crowe.

The following person testified against the bill:
Mr. Scott Nelson.

The bill was left pending.

H.B. 2187 was considered by the committee in a formal meeting on
April 27, 1995.

The committee considered a complete substitute for the bill.  The
substitute was adopted without objection by a non-record vote.  

The bill was reported favorably as substituted, with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of
6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 3 absent.