BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2827

By: González, Mary

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In 2015, the Texas Legislature enacted legislation requiring the Center for Teaching and Learning at The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) to develop and make available postsecondary education and career counseling academies for public school counselors. The resulting program, Texas OnCourse, has been in operation since and provides training to more than 15,000 college and career advisors across the state, as well as developing various other college and career planning resources for students and educators. Though successful in its current form, it has been suggested that transferring administration of the program to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) would allow the program to be expanded and scaled across the state. Accordingly, UT Austin entered into a memorandum of understanding with the THECB to transfer OnCourse personnel and assets to the THECB, effective in January 2021. H.B. 2827 seeks to update state law to reflect this transfer of responsibility.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2827 amends the Education Code to transfer the following duties of the Center for Teaching and Learning at The University of Texas at Austin to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:

· to develop and make available postsecondary education and career counseling academies for school counselors and other postsecondary advisors employed by a public school district at a middle school, junior high school, or high school, including by providing related stipends to attendees;

· to develop certain online instruction in high school, college, and career preparation for students in the seventh or eighth grade; and

· to provide, at its discretion, appropriate counseling resources to educators.

H.B. 2827 repeals Sections 33.009(f) and (j), Education Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.