HBA-JLV C.S.H.B. 1210 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1210 By: Garcia Higher Education 4/20/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Dallas/Fort Worth multi-county metroplex is the most populous region in the State of Texas, yet there is currently not a state-supported law school in the area. By contrast, the Houston metropolitan area has two state-supported schools of law. C.S.H.B. 1210 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, with the assistance of the board of regents of the University of North Texas, to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a school of law at the University of North Texas. 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. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1210 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (coordinating board), with the assistance of the board of regents of the University of North Texas, to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a school of law at the University of North Texas. The bill requires the coordinating board to complete the study and report the results of the study to the legislature on or before December 31, 2002. The provisions of the bill expire September 1, 2003. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B.1210 modifies the original to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (coordinating board) to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a school of law at the University of North Texas. The substitute removes the requirement that the board of regents of the University of North Texas establish and maintain a school of law as a professional school of the University of North Texas. The substitute requires the coordinating board to complete the study and report the results of the study to the legislature on or before December 31, 2002 and provides for the expiration of these provisions on September 1, 2003. The substitute modifies the effective date.