By:  West                                             S.C.R. No. 75

         97S1239/1                           

                            SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The southern region of Dallas County and southern

 1-2     adjacent counties continue to experience rapid population growth;

 1-3     and

 1-4           WHEREAS, The people of this area do not have adequate access

 1-5     to upper-level public higher education; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, There is a need to provide affordable and accessible

 1-7     upper-level public higher education opportunities in this area; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, Expanding upper-level public higher education

 1-9     opportunities for this area of the state will benefit all Texas

1-10     citizens; now, therefore, be it

1-11           RESOLVED, Subject to the appropriation of $200,000 or more to

1-12     fund the feasibility study, that the 75th Legislature of the State

1-13     of Texas hereby authorize the creation of a commission to study the

1-14     creation of an institution of higher education to be located in the

1-15     southern portion of the County of Dallas.  The commission

1-16     membership shall comprise the following:  the chairman of the board

1-17     of regents and chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, one

1-18     member appointed by the lieutenant governor, one member appointed

1-19     by the speaker of the house of representatives, and three members

1-20     who shall be residents of the County of Dallas appointed by the

1-21     senator for District 23.  The appointments shall be made by

1-22     September 1, 1997; and, be it further

1-23           RESOLVED, That the commission shall study the feasibility of

 2-1     and submit a recommendation concerning the creation of an

 2-2     upper-level institution of higher education to be located in the

 2-3     southern portion of the County of Dallas.  The study report shall

 2-4     address:  the unmet need for higher education in the area that

 2-5     would be served by the proposed institution, the role and scope of

 2-6     the proposed institution, the effect on other nearby institutions

 2-7     of higher education of the proposed institution, the location of

 2-8     the proposed institution, the extent and nature of constituency

 2-9     support for the proposed institution, the extent of state and other

2-10     public and private funds needed, and such other elements relating

2-11     to the creation of the proposed upper-level institution as the

2-12     commission may determine appropriate; and, be it further

2-13           RESOLVED, That the commission submit its recommendation to

2-14     the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of

2-15     representatives by September 1, 1998.