BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 1361
88R30235 CXP-F	By: Morales Shaw et al. (Eckhardt)
	Education
	5/18/2023
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over one-quarter of all Texas undergraduate college students are raising children. Parenting responsibilities for a student correlate with much lower odds of completing a degree or certificate within six years of enrollment. Our bill seeks to address these concerns by providing for the designation of a liaison officer at each public institution of higher education to assist and provide information to students who are the parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 years of age.

Summary:

Appoints a liaison from existing staff to provide guidance and information on health services, eligible benefits, campus resources, and success strategies to parenting students.

Requires institutions of higher education to collect demographic and outcomes data on student parents to build knowledge of the needs of parenting students.

Committee Substitute:

Removes the section directing the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to designate at least one employee to act as a liaison officer for parenting students at institutions of higher education.

Removes the requirement to include the student's national origin when collecting demographic data.

C.S.H.B. 1361 amends current law relating to the designation of liaison officers to assist certain students at public intuitions of higher education who are parents.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.9357, Education Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.9357, as follows:

Sec. 51.9357. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST CERTAIN STUDENTS WHO ARE PARENTS; REPORT. (a) Defines "coordinating board" and "institution of higher education."

(b) Requires each institution of higher education to designate at least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer for current or incoming students at the institution who are the parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 years of age. Requires that the liaison officer provide to the students information regarding support services and other resources available to the students at the institution, including:

(1) resources to access:

(A) medical and behavioral health coverage and services; and

(B) public benefit programs, including programs related to food security, affordable housing, and housing subsidies;

(2) parenting and child care resources;

(3) employment assistance;

(4) transportation assistance;

(5) student academic success strategies; and

(6) any other resources developed by the institution to assist the students.

(c) Requires an institution of higher education, not later than May 1 of each academic year, to submit to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) a report that contains the following information regarding students enrolled at the institution for the current academic year who are the parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 years of age:

(1) the number of those students;

(2) demographic data, including age, race, sex, ethnicity, and national origin;

(3) academic data, including full-time or part-time enrollment status and graduation, transfer, and withdrawal rates; and

(4) other data as prescribed by THECB rule.

(d) Requires THECB to adopt rules to administer this section, including rules to ensure compliance with federal law regarding confidentiality of student medical or educational information, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student information.

SECTION 2. (a) Requires THECB, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt rules to implement Sections 51.9357 and 61.09081, Education Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2023�2024 academic year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.