HBA-BSM S.B. 1814 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1814 By: Ellis, Rodney Higher Education 5/7/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, each university system governing board (board) is authorized to set a tuition rate for graduate and professional pharmacy programs at a level two times higher than specified by law. This may lead to the inability of pharmacy and law programs in Texas to remain competitive with other nationally recognized programs. Senate Bill 1814 requires each board to set a rate of tuition for law school and a graduate or professional pharmacy program at a level three times that specified by current law. 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 Senate Bill 1814 amends the Education Code to require the governing board of an institution of higher education to set tuition for a graduate or professional pharmacy program or law school at the institution at a rate that is at least equal to and not more than three times the prescribed tuition rate. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.