SRC-HRD S.B. 840 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 840
By: Ratliff
Finance
4-13-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

The University of Texas at Tyler (U.T. - Tyler) is currently an
upper-level institution, offering junior, senior, and graduate courses to
approximately 3,500 students.  Recognized as a broad spectrum liberal arts
university, U.T. - Tyler attracts students from many Texas counties as
well as other states and foreign countries.  This bill would authorize
U.T. - Tyler to offer undergraduate programs at the freshman and sophomore
level as well as the junior and senior levels. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 840 authorizes the University of Texas at Tyler to offer
undergraduate programs at the freshman and sophomore level as well as the
junior and senior levels. 

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 76.02, Education Code, to require the University
of Texas at Tyler (U.T. - Tyler) to offer undergraduate programs, rather
than junior and senior undergraduate programs, and graduate programs, both
of which are subject to the authority the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (coordinating board).  Deletes an exception.  Deletes
Subsection (b) regarding the approval of an engineering degree program.
Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 76.07, Education Code, to require U.T. - Tyler
to seek to build and expand partnership agreements in the same manner as
authorized by Chapter 51N, of this code. Authorizes U.T. - Tyler, with the
approval of the coordinating board, to enter into a partnership agreement
with a private institution of higher education located in the same county
as any campus of U.T. - Tyler, subject to the same provisions as provided
by Chapter 51N, for a partnership agreement between an institution covered
by that section and a public junior college.  Deletes Subsections (c) and
(d) regarding lower division courses.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.