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


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1210
By: Garcia
Higher Education
4/20/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



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.  C.S.H.B. 1210 requires the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, with the assistance of the board of regents
of the University of North Texas, to conduct a study to evaluate the
feasibility of establishing a school of law at the University of North
Texas. 

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

C.S.H.B. 1210 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (coordinating board), with the assistance of
the board of regents of the University of North Texas, to conduct a study
to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a school of law at the
University of North Texas. The bill requires the coordinating board to
complete the study and report the results of the study to the legislature
on or before December 31, 2002.  The provisions of the bill expire
September 1, 2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B.1210 modifies the original to require the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (coordinating board) to conduct a study to evaluate the
feasibility of establishing a school of law at the University of North
Texas.  The substitute removes the requirement that the board of regents of
the University of North Texas establish and maintain a school of law as a
professional school of the University of North Texas. 

The substitute requires the coordinating board to complete the study and
report the results of the study to the legislature on or before December
31, 2002 and provides for the expiration of these provisions on September
1, 2003.  The substitute modifies the effective date.