HBA-DMH S.B. 1260 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1260
By: Shapleigh
Higher Education
5/5/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) has the
authority to conduct a performance review of a school district for the
purpose of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the district.
Senate Bill 1260 expands the comptroller's authority relating to school
performance reviews to include general academic teaching institutions. 

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

Senate Bill 1260 amends the Government Code to authorize the comptroller of
public accounts (comptroller) to periodically review the effectiveness and
efficiency of the budgets and operations of general academic teaching
institutions.  The bill authorizes a review of a general academic teaching
institution to be initiated by the comptroller, by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board, or by the request of the institution only if
the request is initiated by the president of the institution or by a
resolution adopted by a majority of the governing board of the institution.

The bill requires a general academic teaching institution that initiates a
review to pay 25 percent of the cost incurred in conducting the review.
The bill provides that a review of a general academic teaching institution
must include review of the institution's fiscal operations, management,
student services, and curriculum. The bill establishes reporting
requirements for the comptroller equivalent to existing provisions
established for the reporting of school district performance reviews. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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