MMA H.B. 2146 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS HIGHER EDUCATION H.B. 2146 By: Maxey 3-19-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Hopwood v. Texas has had a dramatic impact on the number of minority applicants to Texas universities. At the University of Texas, for example, applications for African-American students are down 21 percent from last year. At Texas A&M, undergraduate applications for African-Americans are down 15 percent from last year, and those from Hispanic students are down 7 percent. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2146 would require a study to track the effects of Hopwood v. Texas on state institutions of higher education. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.080 to read as follows. Sec. 61.080. CONTINUING STUDY OF MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) Mandates the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to collect data and maintain a database relating to the participation of members of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups in this state in public higher education, including data relating to minority applications, recruitment, admissions, retention, graduation, and professional licensing at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. (b) Mandates the board to maintain a continuous study of the data collected under Subsection (a) and of factors affecting that data. SECTION 2. (a) Mandates the board to institute and coordinate a study of the effects of recent actions on the rates at which members of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups in this state apply for, or are admitted to public institutions of higher education in this state. (b) Requires the study to consider any identifiable factors by the board that may have, or are affecting, those application and admission rates, including: (1) recent legal developments; (2) recent changes in application or student recruiting procedures by public institutions of higher education; and (3) recent changes in admissions standards or practices at public institutions of higher education. (c) Requires the study to include recommendations for legislative or administrative actions that may be taken to encourage or achieve greater participation by members of racial, ethnic, and language minority groups in higher education in this state. (d) Authorizes the board, in conducting the study, to appoint committees to assist in planning, conducting, or analyzing the study. The board may request the assistance of any state agency, office, department, or institution. Requires public institutions of higher education to cooperate with the board in conducting the study. (e) Requires the board to report its activities and the findings of the study to certain state officials by December 1, 1998. (f) This section expires January 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.