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.