BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1230

By: Taylor

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls to consider updating the funding of public junior colleges in Texas, as the current funding formula has not been updated in almost 50 years. S.B. 1230 seeks to address these calls by creating the Texas Commission on Community College Finance to study and make recommendations for the funding of public junior colleges to the 88th Legislature.

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

S.B. 1230 amends the Education Code to establish the 12-member Texas Commission on Community College Finance to make recommendations for consideration by the 88th Legislature regarding the state funding formula and funding levels for public junior colleges that would be sufficient to sustain viable junior college education and training offerings throughout the state and improve student outcomes in alignment with state postsecondary goals.

S.B. 1230 sets out the composition of the commission and the appointment of members, including appointment by the Texas Association of Community Colleges and the Community College Association of Texas Trustees, and sets out requirements for the members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. The bill provides for the geographic and ethnic diversity reflected in commission membership and requires the commission to convene not later than October 15, 2021.

S.B. 1230 requires the commission to examine trend and forecast data, seek stakeholder input, account for equity in student outcomes and, based on its findings, make recommendations on the components of state funding for public junior colleges and the feasibility of establishing shared service agreements or interinstitutional collaborations for the performance of certain administrative services.

S.B. 1230 authorizes the commission to seek resource support from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Association of Community Colleges, and research organizations and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to be used to carry out a commission function. The bill requires the commission to submit a final report and recommendations to specified recipients not later than November 1, 2022, and to cease its activities on completion of the final report.

The provisions of S.B. 1230 expire January 1, 2023.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.