HBA-MPM S.B. 980 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 980
By: Barrientos
Higher Education
5/4/1999
Engrossed

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Multicultural Mathematics and Science Education Cooperative
(cooperative) provides professional development in mathematics and science
to elementary school teachers and principals in economically disadvantaged
public schools in Texas.  It has been reported that TAAS scores in
mathematics for students of the cooperative teachers have increased on
average from a passing rate of 30 percent in 1993 to74 percent in 1998.
S.B. 980 establishes a multicultural mathematics and science education
cooperative and would set forth provisions regarding the operation and
funding of the cooperative. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board in SECTION 1 (Section 61.851(b), Chapter 61, Education Code) of this
bill 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Subchapter T, as
follows:  

SUBCHAPTER T. MULTICULTURAL MATHEMATICS  AND 
SCIENCE EDUCATION COOPERATIVE

Sec. 61.851. ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTICULTURAL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
EDUCATION COOPERATIVE. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board (board) to establish a multicultural mathematics and science
education cooperative (cooperative).  Authorizes the board to adopt rules
relating to the operation of the education cooperative.  

Sec. 61.852. PURPOSE OF COOPERATIVE.  Sets forth the purpose of the
cooperative. 

Sec. 61.853.  FUNDING.  Authorizes the board to use available appropriated
funds to administer this subchapter.  Requires the board to solicit gifts
and grants from any public or private source for the benefit of the
cooperative. 

Sec. 61.854.  CONTRACT WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.  Requires the
board to contract with the University of Texas at Austin to assist with the
establishment and operation of the cooperative.  Authorizes the board to
provide for the payment of a portion of the contract proceeds based upon
the achievement of certain contractual milestones.  

SECTION 2.  Requires the board to take all steps necessary to establish and
operate the cooperative no later than the beginning of the 2000-2001 school
year.  

SECTION 3.  Provides that this Act only takes effect if provided a specific
appropriation for its implementation in H.B. 1 (General Appropriations
Act), Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.