SRC-TNM C.S.S.B. 274 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 274 By: Lucio Education 3-28-97 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.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, C.S.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 institution of higher education in the City of Brownsville, to be known as the University of Texas at Brownsville (university). Requires the university to teach only junior-, senior-, and graduate-level courses except as provided by Subsections (c) and (d). Authorizes the university to enter into a partnership agreement with the Texas Southmost Union Junior College District in the manner authorized by Subchapter N, Chapter 51, to offer, rather than teach, a lower-division, occupational, or technical course that is not offered at the university. Requires the university to offer basic lower-division courses to support bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degree programs. Authorizes the university to offer additional lowerdivision courses if the Texas Southmost Union Junior College District provides regular operational support for the Texas Southmost College and the partnership with the university authorized by Subsection (c). SECTION 2. Amends Section 78.04, Education Code, to authorize the board to make provisions for adequate physical facilities for use by the university, on land committed by the board of trustees of the Southmost Union Junior College District on the district's Texas Southmost campus, subject to certain requirements. SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 78, Education Code, by adding Sections 78.07 and 78.08, as follows: Sec. 78.07. LOWER DIVISION ADMISSIONS. Requires the board, with the concurrence of the board of trustees of the Southmost Union Junior College District, to determine the number of entering freshmen who may be enrolled at the university each academic year. Prohibits the number of entering freshmen enrolled from exceeding 900 in an academic year preceding the 2005-2006 academic year. Sec. 78.08. FORMULA FUNDING. Provides that notwithstanding Section 61.059, a formula adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under that section shall provide that the formula for upper-level general academic teaching institutions shall be applied to upper-division semester credit hours at the university for each state fiscal year preceding the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2006. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 78.02, Education Code, regarding the establishment of an institution of higher education. SECTION 2. Amends Section 78.04, Education Code, regarding physical facilities for use by the University of Texas at Brownsville. Deletes "Texas" in "Texas Southmost Union Junior College District." SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 78, Education Code, by adding Sections 78.07 and 78.08, regarding lowerdivision admissions to the University of Texas at Brownsville and formula funding. Deletes "Texas" in "Texas Southmost Union Junior College District."