SRC-HRD C.S.H.B. 1404 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1404
By: Kamel (Bivins)
Education
4-25-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Distance learning in higher education via video transmission and on-line
services is rapidly increasing.  About 20 of Texas' universities and
one-third of its community colleges offer courses via distance learning.
Last year, 60,000 students took a course via distance learning and that
number is estimated to grow by 20 percent each year. 

In Texas, institutions of higher education must meet two requirements to
offer courses through distance learning.  First, they must meet with all
of the higher education institutions in their region to ensure that
offering a course on-line will not cause unnecessary duplication of
courses, or jeopardize another institution's program.  If an institution
objects to the course, it may not be offered. Then they must meet certain
quality standards set forth by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board. There is concern that these requirements serve as barriers to
institutions' efforts to deliver their services. 

C.S.H.B. 1404 would authorize public technical institutes, public
community colleges, or a public college or university to offer distance a
learning course approved by the board with no in-state geographic
restrictions if the course is within the approved curriculum of the
institution.                                            
PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.H.B. 1404 authorizes public technical institutes, public
community colleges, or a public college or university to offer distance a
learning course approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
with no in-state geographic restrictions if the course is within the
approved curriculum of the institution.                                   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 61.051(j), Education Code, to prohibit any
off-campus courses for credit from being offered by any public technical
institute, public community college, or public college or university
without specific prior approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board (board).  Authorizes, however, any of those institutions to offer a
distance learning course approved by the board with no in-state geographic
restrictions if the course is within the approved curriculum of the
institution.  Requires the board, in order to facilitate the delivery of
courses by distance learning and to improve access to those courses, to
encourage collaborative efforts to make the benefits of computer access to
educational opportunities widely available.  Requires the board to
maintain a central informational resource accessible to the general
public, to be called the Texas Colleges On-Line, on which institutions can
place information relating to all computer-accessible distance learning
programs offered for credit by institutions of higher education and
including computer links, addresses, or other directions to assist an
interested person to obtain additional information directly from the
appropriate institution. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.

 SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Section 61.051(j), Education Code, to authorize any public
technical institute, public community college, or public college or
university to offer a distance learning course approved by the board with
no in-state geographic restrictions if the course is within the approved
curriculum of the institution, rather than authorizing those institutions
without additional board approval to offer a course within the approved
curriculum of the institution to a student who accesses the course through
a computer or computer network.  Requires the board to maintain a central
informational resource accessible to the general public, to be called the
Texas Colleges On-Line, on which institutions can place information
relating to all computer-accessible distance learning courses offered for
credit by institutions of higher education, rather than requiring the
board to maintain a central informational resource, to be called the Texas
On-Line University, accessible to the public through the Internet and
other similar telecommunications networks accessible by computer by the
general public, containing information relating to all computer-accessible
distance learning problems offered by institutions of higher education.