SRC-MKV H.B. 1799 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1799
77R11007 JSA-DBy: Villarreal, Mike (Shapleigh)
Education
5/1/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is no single cohesive long-range statewide plan that
addresses the higher education needs of each region of the state of Texas.
The study of the variance of services, resources, and demographics
throughout the state might help to provide higher education services that
meet each region's needs. H.B. 1799 requires the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board to complete a periodic comprehensive statewide plan that
provides information and guidance to policymakers to ensure the current and
future needs for adequate higher education services are met in each region
of this state.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 61.051, Education Code, by adding Subsection
(i), as follows: 

(i)  Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to
develop and periodically revise a long-range statewide plan to provide
information and guidance to policy makers to ensure that institutions of
higher education meet the current and future needs of each region of this
state for higher education services and that adequate higher education
services at all levels are reasonably and equally available to the
residents of each region of this state. Requires the board in developing
the plan to examine existing undergraduate, graduate, professional, and
research programs provided by institutions of higher education and identify
the geographic areas of this state that, as a result of current population
or projected population growth, distance from other educational resources,
economic trends, or other factors, have or are reasonably likely to have in
the future significantly greater need for higher education services than
the services currently provided in the area by existing institutions of
higher education. Requires the board to also consider the higher education
services provided by private and independent institutions of higher
education in developing the plan.  Requires the board to identify as
specifically as practicable the programs or fields of study for which an
area has or is projected to have a significant unmet need for services.
Requires the board, in determining the need for higher educational services
in an area, to consider the educational attainment of the current
population and the extent to which residents from the area attend
institutions of higher education outside of the area or do not attend
institutions of higher education.  Requires the board to include in the
plan specific recommendations, including alternative recommendations, for
administrative or legislative action to address an area's unmet need for
higher educational services as efficiently as possible.  Requires the
board, not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, to deliver to
the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature a report of the current
long-range plan developed under this section. 
 
SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.