Texas House Bill HB2691

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to elections affecting the boundaries of a public junior college district.

Impact

The amendments introduced by HB2691 are aimed at facilitating the expansion of junior college districts by making the petition process more accessible. By lowering the signature threshold, the bill is expected to encourage more active community participation in the decision-making process regarding education resources and access. This could lead to an increase in the geographical reach of junior college services, ultimately benefiting a larger body of students in the region.

Summary

House Bill 2691 pertains to the governance of public junior college districts in Texas, primarily addressing the process for annexing territory into these districts. The bill amends Section 130.065 of the Education Code to modify the requirement for voter signatures on petitions for annexation. Specifically, the necessary percentage of voters needed to sign a petition to propose annexation is reduced from five percent to three percent, thereby potentially simplifying the process for communities seeking to join existing junior college districts.

Contention

Notably, the bill also changes the criteria under which districts can call for elections to establish expanded boundaries. It lowers the threshold of student enrollment from outside the existing district from 35 percent to 25 percent and for high school graduates from 15 percent to 10 percent over the preceding five academic years. These changes may spark debate, especially among existing college districts concerned about potential competition and the distribution of funding and resources as their boundaries might change more frequently.