BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1697
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In 2001, Texas created a partnership between private companies and institutions of higher education for government/industry collaboration to match dollars for certain education purposes. H.B. 1697 clarifies the original intent of the law by permitting the state to match qualifying grants that go directly to a school. It also changes the reference to an advisory committee to an "evaluation committee." Using the term advisory committee has the effect of applying Government Code 2110, which prohibits the reimbursement of advisory committee member expenses unless specifically appropriated.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1.Amends Section 51.856(b), Education Code, to make modifications to the list of items the sum of which the amount appropriated from the undedicated portion of the general revenue fund under Subsection (a) (pertaining to funds appropriated for the purpose of awarding grants under this subchapter) is prohibited from being less than for the state fiscal biennium.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 51.860(a) and (c), Education Code, as follows:
(a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to appoint an evaluation, rather than advisory, committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the grant program under this subchapter.
(b) Provides that the grant program evaluation committee is not subject to Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committee), Government Code.
SECTION 3. (a) Makes application of this Act prospective.
(b) Provides that on the effective date of this Act, the members of the advisory committee established by Section 51.860, Education Code, serving on that date become members of the evaluation committee established by Section 51.860, Education Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2005.