BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 157
79R10613 KSD-D By: Fraser
S/C on Higher Education
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
There were no public upper-level higher education opportunities within a one-hour drive of Bell County until the 75th Texas Legislature created the state's first university system center by enacting S.B. 572 in 1997. By the spring of 2004, Tarleton State University System Center (Tarleton-CT) enrolled 1,983 students--an increase of 56 percent since Tarleton-CT opened its doors in the fall of 1999. In the five years it has been open, Tarleton-CT has produced 2,006 graduates.
Tarleton-CT, located in Killeen, was the first university system center created by the state using the pathway model. This model is designed to provide higher education opportunities in fast-growing geographical areas where opportunities for post secondary education are not readily available. The Texas Education Code requires that Tarleton-CT enroll 2,500 full-time students in order to become a stand-alone institution.
While the relationship between Tarleton State University and Tarleton-CT has been beneficial to both institutions, many people in the Bell County community believe that Tarleton-CT has a better chance of succeeding and growing as stand-alone institution, that would be called Texas A&M University-Central Texas.
C.S.S.B. 157 expedites the opening of Texas A&M University-Central Texas by lowering the threshold to 1,000 full-time students, if the legislature authorizes revenue bonds to be issued to finance educational and related facilities for the institution, and the bonds are issued for that purpose.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 87.861(d), Education Code, to prohibit Texas A&M University--Central Texas from operating as a general academic teaching institution until the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board certifies that enrollment at the Tarleton State University System Center--Central Texas in Killeen has reached an enrollment equivalent of:
(1) 1,000 full-time students for the semester, if the legislature authorizes revenue bonds to be issued to finance educational and related facilities for the institution, and the bonds are issued for that purpose; or
(2) 2,500 full-time students for one semester if the conditions specified by Subsection (1) are not satisfied.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.