HBA-JLV C.S.H.B. 1211 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1211 By: Garcia Higher Education 4/19/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there are few resources for pharmacy instruction in the state and a shortage of pharmacists statewide. There are no private and only four public schools of pharmacy in Texas according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. While Houston has two state supported schools of pharmacy the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has none. C.S.H.B. 1211 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 pharmacy 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. 1211 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 pharmacy 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. These provisions 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.1211 modifies the original to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a school of pharmacy at the University of North Texas. The original bill required the board of regents of the University of North Texas to establish and maintain a school of pharmacy if the legislature appropriated money for that purpose. The substitute changes the effective date from September 1, 2001 to on passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.