BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2773 By: Serna 5-6-95 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND This bill addresses a problem unique to certain community colleges. As a result of a recent action by the Public Utility Commission, a separate university rate class has been established. At the same time, the commission is contemplating establishing a "public school" rate class. Even though many community colleges perform many of the same functions, they are not classified as "public schools" for rate making purposes. PURPOSE HB 2773 classifies community college as "public schools" for ratemaking purposes. 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 Article VI, Public Utility Regulatory Act, by adding SECTION 45A as follows: Sec. 45A states that the commission shall include any community college in the rate class containing public school customers. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995 SECTION 3. Emergency clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE There are no substantive changes in the substitute. The substitute is a Legislative draft where the original was not. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Pursuant to posting of public notice, the House Committee on State Affairs met in a public hearing on April 10, 1995 to consider HB 2773. The chair laid out HB 2773 and recognized Rep. Serna to explain the bill. The committee considered a complete substitute which was not adopted. The following persons testified for the bill: Raymund Rodriguez representing himself and Jim Boyle representing El Paso Community College. The chair left HB 2773 pending. HB 2773 was considered by the committee in a formal meeting on May 6, 1995. The committee considered a complete substitute which was adopted without objection. The bill was reported favorably as substituted with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars by a record vote of 10 aye 0 nay, 0 PNV, 5 absent.