LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                          April 25, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Bill Ratliff, Chair          IN RE:  Senate BillNo. 1228
         Committee on Education                         By: Barrientos
         Senate
         Austin, Texas






FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
1228 (Relating to actions by the State Postsecondary Review
Entity) this office has determined the following:

The bill would amend certain administrative functions related to
the State Postsecondary Review Entity (SPRE). The bill would
establish jurisdiction for any cases and appeals, protect peer
reviews and consultants acting in good faith on behalf of the
SPRE in program reviews, establish requirements for institutional
notification and explanation of the commencement of review
activities, and establish confidentiality for investigative
information and working papers until the review or complaint has
been completed.  The bill would also provide for disclosure of
information to an appropriate law enforcement authority in the
event that a crime is suspected, and allow the Coordinating Board
to issue a civil investigative demand requiring an institution to
produce documents or permit inspection and copying of records.

The Texas SPRE program is an existing program funded by the
federal government.


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


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