BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 495

By: Watson

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties report that the Central Texas College District and The Victoria College District requested certain changes with regard to their service areas in order to increase efficiency in delivering higher education in their regions. S.B. 495 seeks to implement those changes.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

S.B. 495 amends the Education Code to move the territory within Gillespie County from the service area of the Austin Community College District to the service area of the Central Texas College District. The bill moves the territory within the part of the Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District located in Gonzales County from the Austin Community College District service area to The Victoria College District service area. The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2015 fall semester, except that during the 2015–2016 academic year the Austin Community College District may continue to treat the areas removed by the bill as if they were still in the district's service area as necessary to avoid an unreasonable interruption of junior college services in the areas.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.