SRC-JBJ H.B. 3284 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3284 76R14900 KEL-DBy: Van de Putte (Nelson) Education 5/13/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, a funding disparity exists between men's and women's athletic programs. H.B. 3284 would establish a women's athletic development fund, administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 3284 establishes a women's athletic development fund and a study of women's athletic development practices at institutions of higher education. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Subchapter V, as follows: SUBCHAPTER V. WOMEN'S ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT FUND Sec. 51.831. DEFINITIONS. Defines "board," "fund," and "institution of higher education." Sec. 51.832. ADMINISTRATION OF FUND. Provides that the women's athletic development fund (fund) is in the state treasury. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to administer the fund. Sec. 51.833. USE OF FUND. Requires the board to allocate money in the fund to institutions of higher education to support women's athletic development programs operated by the institution on a collaborative basis with one or more public high schools in this state. Sec. 51.834. CRITERIA IN SELECTING PROGRAMS. Requires the board, in selecting which programs may be provided with money from the funds, to give priority to programs addressing the needs of public high school students whose economic conditions limit their access to athletic facilities, programs, and opportunities. Requires the board to consider other relevant factors, including whether the program promotes gender equity, includes the participation of collegiate-level coaches and athletes to the extent that participation is allowed by the rules of the national intercollegiate athletic association of which the institution operating the program is a member, and has a history of increasing athletic opportunities. Sec. 51.835. FUNDING. Prohibits the board from implementing this subchapter unless money is specifically appropriated for that purpose. SECTION 2. Requires the board to conduct a best practices study of women's athletic development programs currently operated by public institutions of higher education in Texas and other states. Requires the board to make its findings and recommendations available no later than December 1, 2000, in a report to the legislature and to public institutions of higher education in this state. Requires the report to include an analysis of the effect of the programs studied under this section on subsequent student enrollment in and academic performance at public and private institutions of higher education. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999, but only if a specific appropriation for the implementation of this Act or Subchapter V, Chapter 51, Education Code, as added by this Act, is provided in H.B. 1 (General Appropriations Act), Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999; otherwise, this Act has no effect. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.