BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4997
88R12453 JRJ-F	By: Kuempel; Isaac (Campbell)
	Education
	5/16/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texas State Technical College (TSTC) currently operates 10 locations across the state of Texas, three of which opened within the last 15 years, and offers more than 40 programs. Owing to TSTC's unique returned value funding model, which ties TSTC's funding to its job placement rate and wages of TSTC students, TSTC focuses its program mix on high-wage jobs in high demand fields and builds its curricula around the skills necessary for TSTC students to obtain and keep those jobs.

As a result, TSTC locations are in high demand among Texas employers and communities for the key role they play in economic development. The New Braunfels and Seguin chambers of commerce have expressed an interest in hosting a new TSTC campus to serve area employers and to provide training to area residents that will result in rewarding careers with high wages. However, TSTC may not open a new campus unless one is assigned to the TSTC system by specific legislation. H.B. 4997 seeks to authorize a TSTC campus operating one or more locations in Comal and Guadalupe Counties.

H.B. 4997 amends current law relating to a campus of the Texas State Technical College System located in Comal County and Guadalupe County.

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 135.02(a), Education Code, to provide that the Texas State Technical College System is composed of certain campuses, including a campus that operates as a collective unit of one or more locations in Comal County and Guadalupe County. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023. �