HBA-JLV H.B. 1210 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1210
By: Garcia
Higher Education
3/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Dallas/Fort Worth multi-county metroplex is the most populous region in
the State of Texas, yet there is currently not a state-supported law school
in the area.  By contrast, the Houston metropolitan area has two
state-supported schools of law.  House Bill 1210 requires the board of
regents of the University of North Texas to establish and maintain a school
of law, and requires that the school of law be located within the city
limits of Dallas. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1210 amends the Education Code to require the board of regents
of the University of North Texas to establish and maintain a school of law
as a professional school of the University of North Texas not later than
September 1, 2003.  The bill authorizes the board of regents to prescribe
courses leading to customary degrees offered at other leading American
schools of law and to award those degrees.  The bill requires the school of
law to be located in the city of Dallas.  If the University of North Texas
maintains a campus in the city of Dallas, the school of law is required to
be located at that campus. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.