HBA-EDN, LJP H.B. 1685 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1685
By: Rangel
Higher Education
2/25/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, there are no guidelines for the formation of
partnerships or affiliations between a general academic teaching
institution or a medical or dental unit and other entities to offer or
conduct courses for academic credit or to offer a degree program.  House
Bill 1685 establishes guidelines and requires the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board to review any proposed partnerships or affiliations and
make a recommendation to the legislature. 

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 1685 amends the Education Code to prohibit a governing board
from establishing a partnership or affiliation between a general academic
teaching institution or medical and dental unit (institution) within the
governing board's control and any other entity to offer or conduct courses
for academic credit or to offer or operate a degree program, unless the
governing board determines that the partnership or affiliation is
consistent with the role and mission of the institution and the partnership
or affiliation is reviewed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
(THECB) and approved by the legislature. 

The bill requires THECB to review a proposed partnership or affiliation
using the prescribed standards and to submit to the legislature a written
recommendation regarding the establishment of the partnership or
affiliation.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

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