BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1101
86R2207 KEL-D	By: Darby (Seliger)
	Administration
	4/5/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Background:

In 1979 the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf (SWCID), located in Big Spring, Texas, was established after a Texas Education Agency feasibility study showed there was a great need for a post-secondary institution to provide higher education and career training for the deaf. The first classes at SWCID were offered in 1980, and on May 14, 1981, the Governor of Texas signed into law the bill that established SWCID as a state-supported institution within the Howard County Junior College District.

Purpose:

Current students, Howard College, and alumni of SWCID would like to have the word "institute" removed from the name of SWCID. When signing the word "institute," there is a negative connotation for the deaf population.

H.B. 1101 amends current law relating to the name of the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf.

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 Chapter 131, Education Code, as follows:

CHAPTER 131. New heading: SOUTHWEST COLLEGE FOR THE DEAF

Sec. 131.001. New heading: SOUTHWEST COLLEGE FOR THE DEAF. Provides that the Southwest College for the Deaf (college), rather than the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf (institute), is a postsecondary educational institution providing instruction for hearing‑impaired students preparing for a career or for enrollment in a senior college or university.

Sec. 131.002�131.004. Replaces references to the institute with references to the college.

Sec. 131.005. TUITION. (a) Makes a conforming change.

(b) Requires a student who is not a resident of Texas to pay tuition at a rate that is the lesser of:

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision; or

(2) a rate determined by the board of trustees of the Howard Junior College District (board) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), rather than determined by the board and the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System, to be the approximate cost to the college, rather than the institute, not including room and board, of educating a student during the academic year beginning the next fall.

Sec. 131.006. APPROPRIATIONS; GRANTS. Makes conforming changes to this section.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 51.911(a)(1), Education Code, to define "institution of higher education" to have the meaning assigned by Section 61.003 (Definitions) of this code, except that the term includes the college and Texas State Technical College System, rather than to have the meaning assigned by Subdivision (7) of Section 61.003 of this code, except that the term includes the college and Texas State Technical Institute.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 51.925(b), Education Code, to make conforming changes.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 54.364(a)(5), Education Code, to define "institution of higher education" to have the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, except that the term includes the college, rather than the institute.

SECTION 5. Amends Section 31.001(8), Natural Resources Code, to make a conforming change.

SECTION 6. (a) Provides that the name of the institute is changed to the college.

(b) Provides that a reference in law to the institute means the college.

(c) Provides that an appropriation for the use or benefit of the institute is available for the use and benefit of the college.

SECTION 7. Effective date: September 1, 2019.