SRC-JRN S.B. 296 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 296 By: Sibley Education 2-10-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, there is no uniform application form for persons seeking application as an undergraduate student to a general academic teaching institution, nor is there widespread use of exchanging transcripts electronically among Texas schools. Common applications have been used for many years among both private and public colleges. Thus, it has been argued that the availability of common applications on the Internet and the use of electronic transcripts makes the student's application process to colleges easier and reduces the costs. This bill requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt a uniform undergraduate admissions application form and requires the board to make the application available by electronic means such as the Internet. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 296 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt a uniform admission application for general academic teaching institutions and requires the board to make the application available to the public by electronic means such as the internet. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under SECTION 1 (Chapter 61C, Section 61.080(a), Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 61C, Education Code, by adding Section 61.080, as follows: Sec. 61.080. UNIFORM UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION APPLICATION FORM. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board), by rule, to adopt a uniform admission application form for a person seeking admission as an undergraduate student to a general academic teaching institution (institution). Requires the board to include certain information on the form that the board considers appropriate. Requires the board to consult with a representative of each institution before adopting a form or revision to a form under this section. Requires the board to publicize the availability of the form and to ensure that copies and information relating to its use are distributed to the appropriate personnel at each public high school. Requires the board to make the form available to the public via the Internet or other commonly used telecommunications medium. Requires each institution to accept an undergraduate application using the form adopted under this section. Provides that an applicant may use a photocopy of the adopted form. Provides that an institution is not prohibited from using its own undergraduate admission application form or from requiring additional information after the applicant has submitted the uniform admission application form. SECTION 2. Requires the board to adopt a uniform undergraduate admission application form by January 1, 1998. Requires an institution to accept undergraduate applications using the uniform admission application form beginning with applicants for the 1998-1999 academic year. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.