BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                       H.B. 589

80R3533 KEL-D                                                                                       By: Aycock et al. (Fraser)

                                                                                                                    S/C on Higher Education

                                                                                                                                            5/12/2007

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Tarleton State University System Center--Central Texas (Tarleton--Central Texas) in Killeen is the first university system center created by the state using the supply/demand pathway model, which determines the full-time student equivalent (FTSE) for an institution of higher education by dividing the number of semester credit hours generated at each level by a full-time standard for the level.  Tarleton--Central Texas, due to the nature of its population and the limited campus space, primarily educates non-traditional students who attend school year-round versus traditional students who attend school during fall and spring semesters and not during summer sessions.  As a result of these circumstances, Tarleton--Central Texas is unable to become a stand-alone institution because current law states that the stand-alone threshold is 1,000 FTSE for one semester, despite the fact that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) uses the pathway model used in Tarleton--Central Texas to measure FTSE for either one semester or one year. 

 

H.B. 589 requires THECB to include all semester credit hours completed during the fall and spring semesters and the summer session of the academic year in computing the full-time student enrollment equivalent for Tarleton--Central Texas. 

 

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 Section 87.861(d), Education Code, as follows:

 

(d)  Prohibits Texas A&M University--Central Texas from operating as a postsecondary institution until the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) certifies that the Tarleton State University System Center--Central Texas in Killeen has reached an enrollment equivalent of 1,000 full-time students for one semester or one academic year.  Requires THECB, in computing the full-time student enrollment equivalent for an academic year under this subsection, to include all semester credit hours passed in the fall and spring semesters and the summer session of the academic year. 

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.