BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2074
By: Krusee (Ogden)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 2074 creates the East Williamson County Multi-Institutional Teaching Center (center). The center will be an extension of Temple College at Taylor and will provide a portfolio of educational and workforce opportunities for the citizens of rural east Williamson County.
Currently there is no center in east Williamson County for workforce development and part of the goal for such a center is to create quick and flexible responses to employer needs. An additional goal of the center is to create strategic partnerships between Temple College, Tarleton State University, Texas State Technical College, and various major universities. The center's collaborative technology training model will allow it to leverage the strengths and success of member partners while providing it the autonomy that is required to build a truly unique regional education center.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 87.861(d), Education Code, to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), in computing the full-time student enrollment equivalent for a semester under this subsection, to include any semester credit hours completed at the East Williamson County Multi-Institution Teaching Center under Section 130.092 in courses conducted by the faculty of the Tarleton State University System Center--Central Texas, or its successor.
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 130, Education Code, by adding Subchapter F, as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. SPECIAL PROGRAMS OPERATED BY CERTAIN JUNIOR
COLLEGE DISTRICTS
Sec. 130.091. DEFINITION. Defines "institution of higher education."
Sec. 130.092. EAST WILLIAMSON COUNTY MULTI-INSTITUTION TEACHING CENTER. (a) Requires the Temple Junior College district to establish, in conjunction with at least one of the following institutions, the East Williamson County Multi-Institution Teaching Center (center): Tarleton State University; Tarleton State University System Center--Central Texas; Texas State Technical College--Waco; or another public or private institution of higher education.
(b) Requires the center to provide coordinated higher education opportunities to the residents of the region in which the center is located by offering academic credit courses and programs from the member institutions of the center. Requires the center to be administered under a formal agreement entered into by the Temple Junior College District with other member institutions.
(c) Requires the member institutions of the center to work with the local community to work with the local community to identify and offer courses that will meet the educational and workforce development goals for the region served by the center.
(d) Authorizes the member institutions of the center, under the terms of the formal agreement, to make provisions for adequate physical facilities for use by the center.
(e) Authorizes the member institutions of the center to solicit, accept, and administer, on terms and conditions acceptable to the members, gifts, grants, or donations of any kind and from any source for use by the center.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.