HBA-MPM H.B. 2806 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2806
By: Garcia
Higher Education
7/19/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The University of North Texas (university), located in Denton, has a
student population of more than 25,000.  A number of students who enter the
university are not prepared for college, which jeopardizes their chances
for academic success.  The campus and community have expressed interest in
developing a mentoring program to target this group. 

H.B. 2806 authorizes the board of regents of the university to establish a
mentoring program to provide mentoring, tutoring, and other resources to
students at all levels of the educational system in the Denton area.  It
further requires the board to establish a program of continuing study and
evaluation of mentoring activities and research and to prepare a report
relating to the operation of the program. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 105, Education Code, by adding
Section 105.51, as follows: 

Sec. 105.51.  MENTORING PROGRAM.  (a)  Authorizes the board of regents
(board) of the University of North Texas (university) to establish a
mentoring program at the university, which is authorized to provide
mentoring, tutoring, and other resources to students at all levels of the
educational system to assist students with respect to certain goals. 

(b)  Authorizes the program to recruit, train, coordinate, and support
mentors and tutors, and to provide other resources, to a certain population
of students as defined by Section 29.081 (Compensatory and Accelerated
Instruction), Education Code, in the communities primarily served by the
university, or who are otherwise in need of services to assist them in
attaining certain goals. 

(c)  Requires the board to establish in connection with the program a
continuing study and evaluation of mentoring activities and research into
the best practices and methods of mentoring. 

(d)  Requires the board to prepare a report relating to the operation of
the program no later than January 1, 2000. Requires the report to include
certain information. 

(e)  Authorizes the board to use available institutional funds, as defined
by Section 51.009 (Defining and Accounting for Certain Income), Education
Code, and to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any
public or private sources to support the program. 

SECTION 2.  Specifies that this Act does not make an appropriation or
require the board to establish a program under Section 105.51, Education
Code, as added by this Act, unless money is specifically appropriated for
that purpose. 
 
SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.