By: Krusee (Senate Sponsor - Ogden) H.B. No. 2074

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 14, 2007; May 15, 2007, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher Education; May 21, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute from Committee on Education by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 21, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2074 By: Ogden

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the East Williamson County Multi-Institution Teaching Center.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 130, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter F to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F. SPECIAL PROGRAMS OPERATED BY CERTAIN JUNIOR COLLEGE

DISTRICTS

Sec. 130.091. DEFINITION. In this chapter "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

Sec. 130.092. EAST WILLIAMSON COUNTY MULTI-INSTITUTION TEACHING CENTER. (a) The Temple Junior College District may establish, in conjunction with at least one of the following institutions, the East Williamson County Multi-Institution Teaching Center:

(1) Tarleton State University;

(2) Tarleton State University System Center--Central Texas;

(3) Texas State Technical College--Waco; or

(4) another public or private institution of higher education.

(b) The center shall 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. The center must be administered under a formal agreement entered into by the Temple Junior College District with the other member institutions.

(c) The member institutions of the center shall 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) The member institutions of the center may, under the terms of the formal agreement, make provisions for adequate physical facilities for use by the center.

(e) The member institutions of the center may 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 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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