88R6999 MM-D
By: Ortega H.B. No. 1997
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study regarding establishing a public law school as a
professional school of The University of Texas at El Paso.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. FEASIBILITY STUDY. (a) The president of The
University of Texas at El Paso shall designate a department or
entity at the university to conduct a study to examine the need for
and feasibility of establishing a school of law as a professional
school of The University of Texas at El Paso. The department or
entity may seek the assistance of outside experts or consultants,
as necessary.
(b) The study must:
(1) assess the need for establishing an institution
described by Subsection (a) of this section;
(2) include a financial plan for establishing an
institution described by Subsection (a) of this section, including
the cost associated with establishing the institution; and
(3) examine the feasibility of establishing an
institution described by Subsection (a) of this section, including
the projected timeline for accreditation of the institution.
SECTION 2. REPORT. (a) The department or entity at The
University of Texas at El Paso designated to conduct the study under
Section 1 of this Act shall prepare a written report summarizing the
results of the study. The report must also:
(1) identify the challenges related to establishing a
school of law as a professional school of The University of Texas at
El Paso;
(2) include recommendations for legislative or other
action; and
(3) include any other matter the department or entity
considers appropriate.
(b) Not later than September 1, 2024, the department or
entity described by Subsection (a) of this section shall submit the
report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
SECTION 3. FUNDING. The department or entity at The
University of Texas at El Paso designated to conduct the study under
Section 1 of this Act may use money appropriated by the legislature
or otherwise available for the purpose to pay for any costs
associated with conducting the study and with preparing the report
required by Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 1, 2024.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2023.