BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4247

By: Frullo

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the abundance of data collection and reporting requirements for institutions of higher education. There have been calls to limit and reduce these requirements by authorizing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to consolidate and streamline these requirements through rule. H.B. 4247 seeks to address this issue by authorizing the THECB to eliminate certain data collection and reporting requirements.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4247 amends the Education Code to authorize the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), if the commissioner of higher education determines that the THECB has access to an alternative means of collecting data or receiving information to be included in a report sufficient to fulfill an Education Code requirement, to eliminate by rule the reporting requirement for that data or information. The bill repeals provisions relating to a Texas Education Agency and THECB plan to increase enrollment in institutions of higher education and relating to certain affordability and access reports submitted by those institutions. The bill sets out certain legislative findings.

H.B. 4247 repeals the following provisions of the Education Code:

· Section 29.904; and

· Section 51.4031.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.