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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding establishing a public law school as a |
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professional school of The University of Texas at El Paso. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. FEASIBILITY STUDY. (a) The president of The |
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University of Texas at El Paso shall designate a department or |
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entity at the university to conduct a study to examine the need for |
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and feasibility of establishing a school of law as a professional |
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school of The University of Texas at El Paso. The department or |
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entity may seek the assistance of outside experts or consultants, |
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as necessary. |
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(b) The study must: |
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(1) assess the need for establishing an institution |
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described by Subsection (a) of this section; |
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(2) include a financial plan for establishing an |
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institution described by Subsection (a) of this section, including |
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the cost associated with establishing the institution; and |
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(3) examine the feasibility of establishing an |
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institution described by Subsection (a) of this section, including |
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the projected timeline for accreditation of the institution. |
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SECTION 2. REPORT. (a) The department or entity at The |
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University of Texas at El Paso designated to conduct the study under |
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Section 1 of this Act shall prepare a written report summarizing the |
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results of the study. The report must also: |
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(1) identify the challenges related to establishing a |
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school of law as a professional school of The University of Texas at |
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El Paso; |
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(2) include recommendations for legislative or other |
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action; and |
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(3) include any other matter the department or entity |
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considers appropriate. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2024, the department or |
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entity described by Subsection (a) of this section shall submit the |
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report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. |
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SECTION 3. FUNDING. The department or entity at The |
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University of Texas at El Paso designated to conduct the study under |
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Section 1 of this Act may use money appropriated by the legislature |
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or otherwise available for the purpose to pay for any costs |
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associated with conducting the study and with preparing the report |
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required by Section 2 of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2023. |