BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3348

By: Pacheco

Higher Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Stakeholders in public higher education have expressed concern that state law is overly restrictive in terms of the type and number of baccalaureate degrees that can be offered by a public junior college. There have been calls to ease these restrictions so that these colleges may serve a greater number of Texans. C.S.H.B. 3348 seeks to address this issue by increasing the maximum number of baccalaureate degree programs a junior college may offer.

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

C.S.H.B. 3348 amends the Education Code to raise the general cap on the number of baccalaureate degree programs a public junior college may offer from three to five.

C.S.H.B. 3348 repeals Section 130.306(b), Education Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3348 differs from the original only by including a Texas Legislative Council draft number in the footer.