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.