SRC-JLB C.S.H.B. 1566 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1566 78R15812 JRJ-FBy: Telford (Ratliff) Subcommittee on Higher Education 5/20/2003 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Community leaders in Texarkana have decided that the most effective way to ensure increased access to baccalaureate degree programs in Texarkana is to expand Texas A&M University-Texarkana to a full four-year university. C.S.H.B. 1566 allows Texas A&M University-Texarkana to offer lower-division courses but does not require it to do so in any year that the legislature fails to appropriate funds. 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 Sections 87.571(a), (b), and (c) Education Code, as follows: (a) Provides that Texas A&M University--Texarkana is a coeducational, rather than coeducational upper-level, institution of higher education located in the City of Texarkana. (b) Provides that the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System (board) has the same powers and duties concerning the university as are conferred on the board by law concerning Texas A&M University. Authorizes the university to offer, rather than prohibits it from offering, lower-division courses, but provides that it is not required to do so in any academic year for which the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose. Deletes text prohibiting the university from offering freshman or sophomore programs. (c) Authorizes Texas A&M University--Texarkana, notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, to operate as a general academic teaching institution with its own chief executive officer, administration, and faculty only after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) certifies that enrollment at Texas A&M University-Texarkana has reached an enrollment equivalent to 2,500 full-time students for one semester. Authorizes THECB, until such enrollment level is reached, to operate the Texas A&M University--Texarkana in the city of Texarkana. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.