MMA C.S.H.B. 1460 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS HIGHER EDUCATION C.S.H.B. 1460 By: Delisi 3-29-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Currently, all junior college and community college districts must have the words "junior" or "community" in the names of both their districts and colleges. Junior college and community college districts have requested authority to eliminate the words "junior" and "college" from their names. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has also noted necessary clarification of current statutory language providing for a college name change. PURPOSE C.S.H.B. 1460 would grant authority to the boards of trustees of junior college districts to eliminate, by resolution, the words "community" or "junior" from the name of the district or college. 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 Subchapter A, Chapter 130, Education Code, by adding Section 130.0051 to read as follows: Section 130.0051. OTHER CHANGE OF NAME BY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT. (a) States that the board of trustees of a junior college district, by resolution, may change the name of the district or college within it by deleting the words "community" or "junior" if there are no other districts, colleges or institutions in the state with the same name. (b) Requires the certified resolution to be filed with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), at which time the name change takes effect. The new name shall be used for all official business. SECTION 2. Amends Section 130.082(c), Education Code, by adding language that allows a "junior college district" to name itself a "community college district" with an appropriate and locally pertinent name before the words "community college district." Authorizes a district the authority to change its name by referring to Sec. 130.005 (existing statute) and Sec. 130.0051 (bill language). Mandates name change resolutions to be filed with the THECB. Requires that the names of junior college districts existing prior to September 1, 1997 remain the same unless changed under this chapter, and any changes before that date remain valid. Prohibits another school from using the name of any district whose name change is validated under this subsection. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 1460 adds clarifying language, not contained in H.B. 1460, that prohibits a district or college to have the same name as another district, college or institution in the state.