SRC-MWN H.B. 2344 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2344 77R6606 JSA-DBy: Oliveira (Lucio) Education 4/30/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The 76th Legislature enacted legislation to allow for the downward expansion of The University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB), providing for the teaching of lower-division courses and setting a lowerdivision enrollment cap of 900 students. The inclusion of the cap was intended to allow for the downward expansion of UTB so as not to negatively impact the enrollment of Texas Southmost College (TSC). However, the partnership established between UTB and TSC protects against actions by one institution that could produce a negative impact on the enrollment of the other institution. UTB and TSC believes that the enrollment cap is not necessary for the UTB-TSC partnership to continue to grow and address critical issues of access to higher education opportunities in Texas. H.B. 2344 removes the enrollment cap on the number of lower-division students enrolled at UTB preceding the 2005-2006 academic year. 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 78.07, Education Code, to delete text prohibiting the number of lower division students enrolled in an academic year preceding the 2005-2006 academic year. from exceeding 900. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.