| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to partnerships between the Texas State Technical College |
|
|
System and public junior colleges. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 135, Education Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER D. PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE |
|
|
SYSTEM AND PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGES |
|
|
Sec. 135.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "public |
|
|
junior college" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
|
|
Sec. 135.102. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS. (a) With the |
|
|
approval of the coordinating board, the board and a public junior |
|
|
college may enter into a partnership agreement designed to |
|
|
coordinate the management and operations of the institutions and to |
|
|
enhance the delivery of technical education programs across this |
|
|
state. The agreement does not abrogate the powers and duties of the |
|
|
boards with regard to the governance of their respective |
|
|
institutions. |
|
|
(b) A partnership agreement under this subchapter must: |
|
|
(1) provide that the participating institutions, in |
|
|
conjunction with the local community, identify and offer courses |
|
|
that will meet the educational and workforce development goals for |
|
|
the region; |
|
|
(2) provide that program offerings receive approval |
|
|
from the coordinating board; |
|
|
(3) provide for the distribution of responsibilities |
|
|
regarding specific program offerings and resulting awards; |
|
|
(4) provide for the distribution of tuition, fees, and |
|
|
state funds associated with formula funding regarding program |
|
|
offerings; and |
|
|
(5) comply with applicable rules of the coordinating |
|
|
board relating to contractual agreements. |
|
|
(c) A partnership agreement between the system and a public |
|
|
junior college under this subchapter is considered to be in |
|
|
compliance with Sections 135.04(b) and (c). |
|
|
Sec. 135.103. JOINT USE OF PERSONNEL. The governing boards |
|
|
of the participating institutions may fill by joint appointment any |
|
|
administrative, faculty, or support position necessary for the |
|
|
operation of the institutions. |
|
|
Sec. 135.104. SUPPORT SERVICES. The governing boards of |
|
|
the participating institutions may assign the management and |
|
|
operation of selected services, including maintenance of buildings |
|
|
and grounds, operation of auxiliary enterprises, and operation of a |
|
|
jointly supported library, to one of the institutions in order to |
|
|
achieve cost-effectiveness. |
|
|
Sec. 135.105. FACILITIES. (a) The participating |
|
|
institutions may, under the terms of the partnership agreement, |
|
|
make provisions for adequate physical facilities for use by the |
|
|
institutions. |
|
|
(b) The participating institutions may individually or |
|
|
collectively lease, purchase, finance, construct, or rehabilitate |
|
|
physical facilities under this section appropriate to partnership |
|
|
needs. The owning or financing of facilities under this section |
|
|
promotes the public purpose of supporting higher education and |
|
|
further promotes the public purpose of developing and diversifying |
|
|
the economy of this state and eliminating unemployment and |
|
|
underemployment in this state under the authority granted by |
|
|
Section 52-a, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
|
|
(c) A participating institution of higher education may |
|
|
lease facilities from or to another participating institution for |
|
|
administrative and instructional purposes. |
|
|
(d) Participating institutions may solicit, accept, and |
|
|
administer, on terms and conditions acceptable to the participating |
|
|
institutions, gifts, grants, or donations of any kind and from any |
|
|
source for facilities and equipment. |
|
|
(e) A facility used for the purposes of a partnership |
|
|
agreement under this subchapter is not considered a facility used |
|
|
to operate an extension program under Section 135.06. |
|
|
Sec. 135.106. STATE FUNDING. The system is entitled to |
|
|
receive state appropriations on the same formula basis as if the |
|
|
system did not enter into a partnership agreement under this |
|
|
subchapter, and any other participating institution of higher |
|
|
education is entitled to state appropriations on the same formula |
|
|
basis as other similar institutions of higher education. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 2760 was passed by the House on April |
|
|
25, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
|
|
voting. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 2760 was passed by the Senate on May |
|
|
17, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
APPROVED: _____________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
_____________________ |
|
|
Governor |