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.