HBA-MPM S.B. 1819 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1819
By: Luna
Higher Education
5/19/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, community colleges and technical colleges forecast workforce
needs, in order to properly program future educational programs and
training.  A database could pool together information the colleges
routinely utilize to create those forecasts; however, prior to the
implementation of the database, a methodology must be developed to properly
use existing data as a base to forecast technical education.  S.B. 1819
requires the board of regents of the Texas State Technical College System
to develop a methodology for using existing data as a base to forecast
needed technical education programs.  

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 135, Education Code by adding
Section 135.61, as follows: 

Sec. 135.61.  FORECASTING TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM NEEDS.  (a) Requires
the board of regents of the Texas State Technical College System (board) to
develop and administer a program to forecast the types of technical
education programs needed to maintain and improve the state's economic and
technological competitiveness. 

(b)  Requires the program to review the state's business and industry
workforce needs for trained and educated workers and suggest specific
technical education programs in specific areas needed to ensure or that
would enhance the state's economic and technological competitiveness.
Authorizes the board to recommend the creation of new technical education
programs or new methods of delivering education programs. 

(c) Requires the board to provide information and recommendations developed
under the program to any institution of higher education, as defined by
Section 61.003 (Definitions), Education Code, that provides technical
education programs, or the board determines should offer technical
education programs for the purpose of Subsection (a). 

SECTION 2.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.