HBA-BSM H.B. 2344 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2344 By: Oliveira Higher Education 7/25/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Senate Bill 274 passed by the 76th Legislature allowed for the downward expansion of The University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB), providing for the teaching of lower-division courses and setting a lowerdivision enrollment cap of 900 students. The inclusion of the cap was intended to allow for the downward expansion of UTB so as not to negatively impact the enrollment of Texas Southmost College (TSC). However, the partnership established between UTB and TSC protects against actions by one institution that could produce a negative impact on the enrollment of the other institution. UTB and TSC believe that the enrollment cap is not necessary for the UTB-TSC partnership to continue to grow and address critical issues of access to higher education opportunities in Texas. House Bill 2344 removes the enrollment cap on the number of lower-division students enrolled at UTB preceding the 2005-2006 academic year. 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 2344 amends the Education Code to remove the cap of 900 students on the number of lowerdivision students that may be enrolled at The University of Texas at Brownsville in an academic year preceding the 2005-2006 academic year. EFFECTIVE DATE June 15, 2001.