HBA-MPA, MAJ H.B. 565 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 565 By: Oliveira Higher Education 6/3/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Numerous environmental and health issues overlap in the 43-county border region of Texas. Prior to the 76th Legislature there was no clear mandate to address border environmental issues at institutions of higher education. H.B. 565 calls for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to urge institutions of higher education to allocate more state research and technology funds to environmental issues in the border region. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.0821, as follows: Sec. 61.0821. RESEARCH ON BORDER REGION ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. Provides that "border region" means the area composed of the counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, Live Oak, La Salle, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, San Patricio, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to encourage institutions of higher education and other entities using state research or technology funds to apply those funds to environmental issues in the border region to the extent consistent with the authorized use of those funds. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.