BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1313

By: Schwertner

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to interested parties, Sam Houston State University administers the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas and the Correctional Management Institute of Texas, both of which are funded through a general revenue dedicated account. The latter institute was originally established under appropriation and operated under implied authority, but the parties note that the comptroller of public accounts recently established that the university may no longer operate the institute without expressed statutory authority. S.B. 1313 seeks to provide Sam Houston State University with the authority necessary to continue to operate the Correctional Management Institute of Texas.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the president of Sam Houston State University in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1313 amends the Education Code to establish the Correctional Management Institute of Texas for the training of criminal justice professionals, under the supervision and direction of the president at Sam Houston State University, with headquarters at that university. The bill authorizes the president of the university to establish rules relating to the institute and to establish reasonable charges for participation in institute training programs by participants who are not Texas residents. The bill requires the participation costs of participants who are Texas residents, including tuition, books, room, board, and travel costs, to be paid from the Correctional Management Institute of Texas and Criminal Justice Center Account in the general revenue fund. The bill authorizes the institute to provide fee-based training and professional development programming using funds other than appropriated funds.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.