HBA-LJP H.B. 1799 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1799
By: Villarreal, Mike
Higher Education
7/10/2001
Enrolled

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, there was no single cohesive long-range
statewide plan that addressed the higher education needs of each region of
the state of Texas.  The study of the variance of services, resources, and
demographics throughout the state might help to provide higher education
services that meet each region's needs.  House Bill 1799 requires the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board to complete a periodic comprehensive
statewide plan that provides information and guidance to policymakers to
ensure the current and future needs for adequate higher education services
are met in each region of this state. 

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 1799 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to develop and periodically revise a
long-range statewide plan to provide information and guidance to
policymakers to ensure that institutions of higher education at all levels
meet the current and future needs of each region of this state for adequate
higher education services that are reasonably and equally available to the
residents of each region of this state. 

The bill requires THECB in developing the plan to examine existing
undergraduate, graduate, professional, and research programs provided by
institutions of higher education.  THECB is required to identify geographic
regions in this state that have or are likely to have in the future a
significantly greater need for higher education services than currently
provided in the area.  THECB is required to consider the higher education
services provided by private and independent institutions in developing the
plan and to identify the programs or fields of study for which an area has
or is projected to have a shortage of higher education services.  THECB is
also required to consider the current educational attainment and rate of
attendance at institutions of higher education of an area's population in
determining the area's need for additional higher education services. 

THECB is required to include in the plan specific recommendations for
administrative or legislative action to address an area's unmet need for
higher education services.  The bill also requires THECB to deliver to the
governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature a report of the current
long-range plan no later than November 1 of each even-numbered year. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

May 25, 2001.