LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                        February 27, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Irma Rangel, Chair           IN RE:  House Bill No. 85
         Committee on Higher Education                  By: Hunter, Todd
         House of Representatives
         Austin, Texas






FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on House Bill No.
85 (Relating to the development of distance learning and related
activities by institutions of higher education) this office has
determined the following:

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.

The bill would require the Higher Education Coordinating Board to
develop a comprehensive master plan regarding distance learning
for institutions of higher education. The plan would include
recommendations for coordination of statewide resources,
infrastructure development, training, funding  and fee issues,
public utility regulatory policies,  and statutory or regulatory
changes.  The bill also would require an advisory committee
comprised of representatives of institutions of higher education.

Because planning activities related to the coordination of higher
education are currently part of the Coordinating Board's mission,
the requirements of this bill would fall within current
expectations.  Assuming the current level of Coordinating Board
activities continue, no additional costs to the state are
expected.  Additionally, institutions of higher education
currently provide support for advisory committees participating
in statewide studies and planning efforts.  It is assumed that
the advisory committee requirement of this bill would be
undertaken as part of the existing institutional support for such
efforts.    




 
No fiscal implication to the State or units of local government
is anticipated.




Source:   Higher Education Coordinating Board
          LBB Staff: JK, MK, WRR