SRC-JJJ S.B. 808 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 808 76R3468 JSA-DBy: Ellis Education 4/26/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, colleges are required to get the approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for their new construction projects. As part of the approval process, THECB requires the colleges to reduce their deferred maintenance before embarking on new construction. Currently, no statewide benchmark exists for deferred maintenance. S.B. 808 would audit and evaluate deferred maintenance needs of state institutions of higher education. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 808 audits and evaluates deferred maintenance needs of state institutions of higher education. 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 61.0582, Education Code, by amending Subsections (d) and (e), and adding Subsection (f), to require the rules to require an institution to report its deferred maintenance according to one or more measures prescribed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Requires THECB to include a measure that to the extent practicable conforms to the facilities condition index developed by the Association of Physical Plant Administrators. Requires THECB to develop and maintain a comprehensive database of the deferred maintenance and analysis of information received by THECB. Requires the database to be maintained in a manner that allows reasonable access by institutions of higher education, policymakers, and interested persons. Requires THECB to include a current assessment of the deferred maintenance needs of institutions covered by this section, rather than its findings, in THECB's annual report. Requires THECB to conduct a comprehensive audit of all educational and general facilities of certain educational institutions and systems not later than January 1, 2001. Authorizes THECB to contract with appropriate persons to assist in planning, administering, or evaluating the audit. Requires each governing board or campus to contribute a portion of the costs of administering the audit from its appropriations that may be expended for physical plant operations, support, or maintenance. Requires the board to allocate these costs in proportion to the costs attributed to the institution or campus in the audit, or on other reasonable basis adopted by THECB. Sets forth the recipients of copies of reported results from the audit. Provides that this subsection expires September 1, 2001. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.