BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2344
	By: Creighton
	Higher Education
	4/5/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current statute requires that territory annexed to an existing junior college district be contiguous to the college district. Community or junior colleges have designated service areas based on school district boundaries as delineated by the Education Code. Citizens in these areas may hold an election to agree to pay ad valorem taxes. If the residents do not choose to formally join a college district, the current law keeps service areas under control of a college district and denies residents the opportunity to exercise the right to join and pay taxes to another college district.

Modern technology, communication enhancements, and an extensive highway system make the �contiguous� provision outdated and no longer applicable. In addition, fiscal or political constraints often make annexations or the willingness to be annexed problematic.

S.B. 2344 addresses this issue by allowing the citizens in a �service area� the opportunity to join a college district through a vote. It allows residents to choose a college district that can better address community needs through lower taxes and business efficiencies, or a district that offers high quality facilities, academic and workforce programs that improve the quality of life and general economic prosperity of individuals and businesses.

As proposed, S.B. 2344 amends current law relating to the annexation of territory by a junior college district.

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 Sections 130.063(a) and (c), Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 130.063. EXTENSION OF JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. (a) Authorizes territory, subject to Subsections (b) and (c), to be annexed to a junior college district by contract under Section 130.064 (Annexation by Contract) or election under Section 130.065 (Annexation by Election), if the territory:

(1)�(2) makes nonsubstantive changes to these subdivisions; or

(3) is located within 60 miles of the annexing district boundaries.

(c) Authorizes a junior college district to conduct an annexation election to annex territory under this section that is included in the service area of another junior college district, provided that the territory is not included in the boundaries of another junior college district, rather than prohibiting a junior college district from �annexing territory under this section that is included in the boundaries of another junior college district.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.