Bill: HB 3640, 83(R) - 2013

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
No Neutral Neutral Neutral Negative Neutral

Author(s)

Jim Pitts

Bill Caption

Relating to the creation of an extension center of the Texas State Technical College System.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB 3640, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($10,745,180) through the biennium ending August 31, 2015. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Bill Analysis

Summary: HB 3640 would create an extension center in Ellis County as part of the Texas State Technical System, located south of Dallas. The Texas State Technical College (TSTC) System offers technical-vocational education, and interested parties note that TSTC is Texas’ lone technical college system at a time when demand is growing for technical-vocational education. According to LBB, HB 3640 would have a negative impact of $10.7 million through August, 2015, due to debt-service payments. Debt service payments would continue to cost tens of millions more dollars over the subsequent years.

Analysis: HB 3640 is an unnecessary, costly expenditure that expands the burden placed on Texans to fund higher education. While technical-vocational training is important as an alternative to increasingly expensive four year degrees, This Ellis County extension center is costly, particularly when TSTC already has locations close to the one proposed, including TSTC’s site in Waco. Instead of creating a new branch of TSTC, those wishing to pursue technical-vocational education in the Dallas area can utilize one of TSTC’s surrounding branches or any alternative in the Dallas area. Vote “no” on HB 3640.

 


Source URL (retrieved on 03/28/2024 08:03 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/83r/hb3640?print_view=true