HBA-MPM H.B. 1874 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1874
By: Hinojosa
Higher Education
4/12/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 1874 includes the University of Texas--Pan American (university) among
those institutions in the Engineering Excellence Fund.  Additionally, this
bill authorizes the university's board of regents to acquire by purchase,
exchange, or otherwise, any tract or parcel of land in Hidalgo County.  The
bill also requires the International Trade and Technology Center at the
university to develop and implement a video conferencing pilot program to
assist small businesses in establishing international trade relationships
by allowing them access to certain video facilities for a fee. 

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 Section 51.502(1), Education Code, to include the
University of Texas -- Pan American among those institutions listed under
the definition of "eligible institution." 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 77.15(a), Education Code, to delete the
requirement that a tract or parcel of land in Hidalgo County that the board
of regents of The University of Texas System (board) on behalf of the
University of Texas--Pan American (university) is authorized to acquire by
purchase, exchange, or otherwise, be contiguous or adjacent to the main
campus of the university in Edinburg, Texas. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 77, Education Code, by adding
Section 77.16, as follows: 

Sec. 77.16.  SMALL BUSINESS VIDEO CONFERENCING PILOT PROJECT.  (a) Requires
the International Trade and Technology Center (center) at the university to
develop and implement a video conferencing pilot program designed to assist
small businesses in establishing international trade relationships by
allowing them access to certain video facilities for a fee. 

(b)  Requires the center, in developing the project, to:

(1) work with small business development centers affiliated with
institutions of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003
(Definitions), Education Code, and the General Services Commission; 
(2)  ensure that the project allows a small business with limited resources
to explore trade possibilities with a foreign country before traveling to
that country; 
(3)  determine the amount of usage fees to be charged to participants so
that the total amount collected does not exceed costs of administering the
project; 
(4)  use available mobile telecommunications facilities; and
(5)  set a timetable to complete the pilot program.

(c)  Authorizes the center to solicit and accept gifts and grants from any
source to cover the cost of administering the project. 
 
(d)  Requires the center to submit to the governor and the legislature an
initial report on the effectiveness of the project no later than January
15, 2001.  Requires the center to submit a final report on the project to
the governor and legislature no later than January 15, 2003. 

(e)  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2004.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.  Requires the center to
establish a pilot project as described by Section 77.16, Education Code, as
added by this Act, no later than January 1, 2000. 

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.