BILL ANALYSIS
By: Krusee
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
C.S.H.B. 2074 will create the East Williamson County Multi-Institutional Teaching Center (MITC). The East Williamson County MITC will be an extension of the educational successes of Temple College at Taylor and will provide a portfolio of educational and workforce opportunities for the citizens of rural East Williamson County.
There is currently no center in East Williamson County for workforce development where citizens can gain skills and knowledge needed to help with research and development, product design, and lights-out manufacturing. Part of the goal for the 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 successes of member partners while providing it the autonomy that is required to build a truly unique regional educational center for the 21st century. Whether students will want to work in design, testing or repair, the high skill/high wage programs will help the current and future workforce of East Williamson County.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1: Amends Section 87.861 (d) of the Education Code, by adding language which states that when computing the full-time student enrollment equivalent for a semester, the coordinating board shall include semester hours completed at East Williamson County Multi-Institution Teaching Center in courses conducted by the faculty of the Tarleton State University System Center--Central Texas, or its successor.
SECTION 2: Amends Chapter 130 of the Education Code by adding a new Subchapter F, titled: SPECIAL PROGRAMS OPERATED BY CERTAIN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICTS. Defines "institution of higher education." Provides that the Temple Junior College District shall establish the East Williamson County MITC in conjunction with at least one of the following: Tarleton State University; Tarleton State University System Center--Central Texas; Texas State Technical College--Waco; or any other public or private institution of higher education.
Requires the East Williamson County MITC to provide coordinated higher education opportunities to the residents of the region where it is located by offering academic credit courses and programs from the member institutions of the East Williamson County MITC. The language further states that the East Williamson County MITC must be administered under a formal agreement entered into by the Temple Junior College District with the other member institutions. Requires the member institutions of the center 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. Provides that the member institutions of the center may make provisions for facilities. Provides that the center may also solicit, accept and administer gifts, grants or donations of any kind and from any source for use by the center on terms and conditions acceptable to the members of the center.
SECTION 3: Effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
Rather than amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e), the substitute amends Subsection (d) of Section 87.861 of the Education Code. The substitute creates the East Williamson County institution of higher education as a Multi-Institution Center (MITC), as opposed to the filed version where it was created as the East Texas County Higher Education Center of Texas A&M University--Central Texas. The substitute establishes that Temple Junior College District shall collaborate with either Tarleton State University, Tarleton State University System Center--Central Texas, Texas State Technical College--Waco, or any other public or private institution of higher education in order for the MITC to be established. The substitute also provides guidelines for the center, requirements for the member institutions, and makes other conforming changes.