HBA-MPM H.B. 3319 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3319
By: Cuellar
Higher Education
3/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law delegates to governing boards (boards) of public general
academic institutions, healthrelated institutions, and technical colleges
the authority to construct educational and general space costing less than
$300,000 and to undertake repair and renovation of these spaces when the
cost is less than $600,000 without the oversight of the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (coordinating board).  Since these thresholds
were amended in 1989, inflation has caused more projects exceeding these
caps to come before the board.  H.B. 3319 authorizes the boards to
undertake, without coordinating board oversight, projects involving new
construction for which the total cost will be less than $1 million, or $2
million for repair and renovation projects. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subsection (a), Section 61.058, Education Code, to
increase the threshold at which construction projects are required to be
approved or disapproved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
(board) to $2,000,000, rather than $600,000, in the provision requiring the
board's consideration and determination to be limited to the purpose for
which the new or remodeled buildings are to be used to assure conformity
with approved space utilization standards and the institution's approved
programs and role of the mission.  Makes the requirement of the board's
approval for new construction applicable only to projects for which the
total cost is in excess of $1,000,000, rather than $300,000.  Makes
conforming changes.  

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.