BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                       C.S.S.B. 649

                                                                                                                                      By: Shapleigh

                                                                                                                                Higher Education

                                                                                                        Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Joint partnerships between institutions of higher education could potentially be an efficient use of resources. A report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) will help determine how institutions can maximize their resources and offer the best services to students for the least amount of cost. 

 

C.S.S.B. 649 allows the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to study and submit a written report to the Legislature analyzing the ability of institutions of higher education to enter into joint partnerships involving the joint use of faculty and facilities and joint degree programs.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.0661 to read as follows:

 

Sec. 61.0661.  STUDY OF JOINT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) Provides that the board may conduct a study to determine whether institutions of higher education, including component institutions of different university systems, may effectively enter into joint partnerships agreements to develop joint degree programs and joint research programs; make joint appointments of faculty or other personnel to the partnership and to either or both institutions; and maintain joint facilities for purposes of conducting joint programs described by Subdivision (1).

 

(b) Provides that if the board conducts a study under Subsection (a), the board must report to the legislature concerning the results of the study not later than January 1, 2009. Requires the report to include the board's recommendations for implementing effective joint partnerships between institutions of higher education.

 

(c) Allows the board to take action under this section only to the extent existing resources are available for that purpose.

 

(d) Provides that this section expires June 1, 2009.

 

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

The substitute makes a change to allow the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to conduct the described study only to the extent that existing resources are available for that purpose, rather than to require the board to conduct the study using existing resources.  The caption of the bill is changed to reflect this change.