SRC-DPW S.B. 502 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 502 76R5248 JSA-DBy: Shapleigh Education 4/19/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, under Section 61.313(e), Education Code, private post-secondary educational institutions are prohibited from using the term "college" or "university" in their official name or title unless they used the term as of September 1, 1997 and were established before September 1, 1975. A parent business of a campus, which is exempt under Section 61.313(e) from the requirement to remove the term "college" or "university" from its name or title and uses the term "college" in its name, is unable to operate new campuses utilizing the name because the new campuses do not meet the qualifications contained in Section 61.313(e). This bill would allow a business whose name on September 1, 1995, included the term "college" and whose campuses are exempt from the provisions of Section 61.313, to be allowed to operate a new campus utilizing the recognizable name of the parent institution, if the other institution offers the same or similar educational programs as the parent institution. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 502 authorizes a person to use the term "college" or "university" in the official name of certain private postsecondary educational institutions. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 61.313(e), Education Code, to provide that a person, rather than an institution, is not required to remove the term "college" or "university" from the name of a private postsecondary educational institution established prior to September 1, 1975. Authorizes a person to use the term "college" in the official name of another private institution in this state provided that the person's business name on September 1, 1995 included the term "college," and the other institution offers similar programs as the institution established before September 1, 1975. SECTION 2.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.