AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
In order to be competitive in attracting business, Texas cities and counties must have local access to higher education. Hood County is one of very few Texas counties that have not been placed in any college's service area.
Currently, Weatherford College, the City of Granbury, Hood County, Granbury Independent School District, the Granbury Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Granbury Area Economic Development Council have partnered to create a Weatherford College Granbury campus. This Granbury campus enrollment has surpassed 321 students and will likely outgrow the present building.
S.B. 439 adds Hood County to the Weatherford College service area so that the college has the ability to charge a maintenance tax or a full tax to allow a facility to be built in Hood County to serve Hood County students and families.
A well-trained workforce benefits not only Hood County, but the whole state.
As proposed, S.B. 439 amends current law relating to the Weatherford College District service area.
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 130.209, Education Code, to include the territory within Hood County among the counties included in the service area of the Weatherford College District.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.