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.