HBA-LJP H.B. 3568 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3568
By: George
Higher Education
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, The University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at
Dallas, and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
are all individual institutions of higher education (institution) under The
University of Texas System.  If these institutions were combined into one
institution, then the consolidated institution may be able to draw more
educational resources and faculty to the Dallas-Arlington area and become
eligible for additional federal funds.  House Bill 3568 redesignates The
University of Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at Dallas, and
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas as three
separate campuses of The University of Texas at Dallas. 

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

House Bill 3568 amends the Education and Health and Safety codes, and
V.T.C.S. to redesignate The University of Texas at Arlington, The
University of Texas at Dallas, and The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center at Dallas into one institution as three separate campuses of
The University of Texas at Dallas. 

The bill removes provisions regarding The University of Texas System
issuing bonds to finance certain projects for The University of Texas at
Arlington and The University of Texas Southwestern  Medical Center at
Dallas and provides that bonds issued to finance certain projects at these
institutions before September 1, 2001, are considered to be bonds issued
for facilities of The University of Texas at Dallas (Sec. 55.1722,
Education Code).  The bill removes provisions regarding undergraduate
admissions to The University of Texas at Dallas (SECTION 9). 

The bill requires the board of regents of The University of Texas System to
secure the opinion of the attorney general on the title of real property to
be conveyed to The University of Texas at Dallas through a gift, grant, or
donation (Sec. 70.05, Education Code) 

The bill repeals provisions relating to student union fees at and the
description, role, and scope of The University of Texas at Arlington, and
the description, courses and degrees, gifts and grants, and entering class
enrollment of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at
Dallas. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.