SRC-TNM S.B. 274 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 274 By: Lucio Education 2-10-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB), in a special partnership arrangement, leases school facilities from Texas Southmost College (TSC), a community college in Brownsville, Texas, and offers upper-level courses at these facilities only. Both schools have experienced considerable growth, but now classroom space is becoming limited. UTB is anticipated to eventually develop a separate campus. TSC would retain its bond indebtedness and control over the open admissions community college, while UTB would be allowed to offer a four-year institution to the community. S.B. 274 requires the board of reagents of the University of Texas System to establish an educational institution offering basic lower-division curricula to support Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in accordance with the partnership agreement. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 274 outlines provisions relating to lower-division curricula at the University of Texas at Brownsville. 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 78.02, Education Code, to require the board of regents of the University of Texas System (board) to establish an educational institution in the City of Brownsville, to be known as the University of Texas at Brownsville (university). Requires the university to offer basic lower-division curricula to support Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees and authorizes the university to offer additional lower-division academic courses in accordance with the partnership agreement. Makes a nonsubstantive change. SECTION 2. Amends Section 78.03, Education Code, to authorize the board to authorize the university to offer lower-division courses in accordance with Subsections 78.02(b) and 78.02(c). SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.