HBA-MPM H.B. 3263 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3263
By: Uher
Higher Education
4/7/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Acts of the 46th Legislature created Washington County Junior College,
now known as Blinn Junior College, the oldest state-supported junior
college, owned by the county and governed by a seven-member board.  Only
two junior colleges in Texas fall into this category of electing a
governing board of seven members, with four members elected from the
respective commissioner precincts and three members elected at large.
During the 61st Texas Legislature, legislation was passed which authorized
the board to pass a resolution and submit it to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (board) concerning the method of electing the governing
board.  H.B. 3263 authorizes the governing board of the junior college to
pass an order that the board members elected at-large be elected instead by
position. 

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 E, Chapter 130, Education Code, by adding
Section 130.0823, as follows: 

Sec. 130.0823.  ELECTION BY POSITION IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS.  Makes this
section applicable to a junior college (college) that elects a governing
board (board) of seven members, with four members elected from respective
commissioner precincts and three elected at large.  Authorizes the board to
order that the board members elected at large be elected instead by
position.  Provides that the order must be entered no later than the 120th
day before the first election of a trustee by position.  Authorizes the
board to provide for trustees holding office on the date of the initial
election of trustees by position to serve the remainder of their terms and
to represent a position for that term. 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: 90 days upon adjournment.