Texas House Bill HB355

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to junior college district territory annexation and program approval in certain counties.

Impact

The enactment of HB 355 will have a significant impact on how junior colleges can expand their services and jurisdiction, particularly in counties where technical college campuses are located. By tightening the annexation regulations, it aims to foster clearer boundaries of operation between junior colleges and technical colleges, potentially limiting the reach of junior colleges in those areas. This might also affect student access to junior college programs in regions where they could have otherwise been introduced, thus influencing local educational offerings and choices available to students seeking vocational training.

Summary

House Bill 355 addresses the governance of junior college districts in Texas, specifically focusing on procedures for territory annexation and the approval process for vocational and technical programs within certain counties. The bill modifies Section 130.063 of the Education Code to restrict junior college districts from annexing land if a campus of the Texas State Technical College System exists within that county but outside the jurisdiction of the junior college district. This provision seeks to prevent overlap and potential competition between the technical college systems and junior colleges.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 355 include concerns from stakeholders in the education sector regarding potential constraints on educational service delivery to communities. Opponents argue that the restrictions on annexation could hinder the ability of junior colleges to adapt and expand in response to local educational needs. Additionally, there may be resistance from regions feeling that their access to diverse programs could be curtailed by legislation that tightly regulates program offerings, possibly leading to a lack of resources for students in vital vocational tracks.