BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1677

By: Buckingham

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the abundance of data collection and reporting requirements for public institutions of higher education. Although the collection and reporting of higher education data is critical for policy and institutional decision-making, there are circumstances in which reporting requirements are duplicative or redundant, leading to increasing inefficiency over time. There have been calls to limit and reduce the administrative burden on institutions by authorizing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to consolidate and streamline reporting requirements through rule. S.B. 1677 seeks to provide that authority and to eliminate certain duplicative 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 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1677 amends the Education Code to authorize the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to eliminate by rule a reporting requirement under which the THECB collects or receives data or information for purposes of inclusion in a report required by the Education Code if the commissioner of higher education determines that the THECB has access to an alternative means of collecting data or receiving information sufficient for that purpose. The bill repeals provisions relating to the following:

· a Texas Education Agency and THECB plan to increase enrollment in public institutions of higher education from certain public school districts; and

· annual affordability and access reports produced by each institution of higher education.

The bill removes a requirement for the rules and regulations of each institution of higher education concerning faculty academic workloads to be included in those institutions' operating budgets. The bill sets out certain legislative findings.

S.B. 1677 repeals Section 659.026, Government Code, which requires an applicable state agency to make available to the public certain information regarding staff compensation.

S.B. 1677 repeals the following provisions of the Education Code:

· Section 29.904; and

· Section 51.4031.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.