BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2032
85R2219 KEL-F	By: Bettencourt
	Higher Education
	4/13/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texas State Technical College System (TSTC) shall contribute to the educational and economic development of the State of Texas by offering occupationally oriented programs with supporting academic course work, emphasizing highly specialized advanced and emerging technical and vocational areas for certificates or associate degrees. TSTC is authorized to serve the State of Texas through excellence in instruction, public service, faculty and manpower research, and economic development. TSTC's economic development efforts to improve the competitiveness of Texas business and industry include exemplary centers of excellence in technical program clusters on TSTC's campuses and support of educational research commercialization initiatives. Through close collaboration with business, industry, governmental agencies, and communities, including public and private secondary and postsecondary educational institutions, TSTC shall facilitate and deliver an articulated and responsive technical education system.

In developing and offering highly specialized technical programs with related supportive coursework, primary consideration shall be placed on industrial and technological manpower needs of the state. The emphasis of each TSTC campus shall be on advanced or emerging technical programs not commonly offered by public junior colleges.

As introduced, S.B. 2032 gives TSTC the authority to create a technical-vocational course of study or technical-vocational certificate or degree program without approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

It also would allow TSTC to operate an extension center created after September 1, 1991, in a city or county without approval from THECB.

As proposed, S.B. 2032 amends current law relating to the authority of the Texas State Technical College System to offer technical-vocational courses or programs.

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 135.01, Education Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d), as follows:

(c) Deletes existing text requiring the emphasis of each Texas State Technical College System (system) campus to be on advanced or emerging technical programs not commonly offered by public junior colleges.

(d) Provides that the authority of the system to create a technical-vocational course of study or technical-vocational certificate or degree program under this section is not subject to Section 61.0512 (Board Approval of Academic Programs).

SECTION 2. Amends Section 135.02(b), Education Code, as follows:

(b) Deletes existing text authorizing the system to operate an extension center in a city or county if the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has given prior approval to the extension center, after considering certain information. Redesignates existing Subdivisions (2) and (3) as Subdivisions (1) and (2), respectively.

SECTION 3. Repealer: Section 135.04 (Approval of Programs), Education Code.

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.