By Wilson H.B. No. 1439
76R6269 CAG-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to monitoring the performance of students at institutions
1-3 of higher education who participate in intercollegiate athletics.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 51.960 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 51.960. INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETES. (a) The governing
1-8 board of an institution of higher education shall adopt a written
1-9 policy relating to students of the institution who participate in
1-10 intercollegiate athletics on behalf of the institution. The policy
1-11 shall describe:
1-12 (1) the institution's commitment to providing a
1-13 quality education to the students;
1-14 (2) any academic services the institution provides to
1-15 the students to assist the students in receiving a quality
1-16 education, including any tutoring, mentoring, enrichment, or other
1-17 programs or services; and
1-18 (3) any performance measures that the institution uses
1-19 to measure the success of a policy adopted under this section,
1-20 including any standards relating to:
1-21 (A) the minimum grade point average the
1-22 institution requires a student to maintain to be eligible to
1-23 participate in intercollegiate athletic events;
1-24 (B) the percentage of the institution's students
2-1 participating in intercollegiate athletics who graduate from the
2-2 institution;
2-3 (C) a description of the percentage of income
2-4 from the entire intercollegiate athletic program at the institution
2-5 used to provide the academic services described by Subdivision (2);
2-6 and
2-7 (D) any other performance measure that the
2-8 governing board adopts.
2-9 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall:
2-10 (1) establish minimum standards for a policy required
2-11 under Subsection (a);
2-12 (2) annually assess each institution's compliance with
2-13 Subsection (a) and the board's minimum standards; and
2-14 (3) annually publish a summary of the programs
2-15 established under this section and the board's assessment of each
2-16 institution's compliance with Subsection (a) and the board's
2-17 minimum standards.
2-18 (c) If the coordinating board determines that an institution
2-19 is not in compliance with Subsection (a) and the board's minimum
2-20 standards, the institution may not use any funds or fees, including
2-21 income from intercollegiate activities and events, to support
2-22 intercollegiate athletics until the institution enters into a
2-23 compliance agreement with the coordinating board.
2-24 (d) The compliance agreement shall require that the
2-25 institution comply with Subsection (a) and the coordinating board's
2-26 minimum standards within one year. If an institution does not
2-27 comply with the terms of the compliance agreement, the institution
3-1 may not participate in intercollegiate athletics for two years.
3-2 SECTION 2. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
3-3 section, this Act takes effect January 1, 2000.
3-4 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
3-5 adopt standards for university policies relating to intercollegiate
3-6 athletes as required by Section 51.960, Education Code, as added by
3-7 this Act, not later than September 1, 1999. An institution of
3-8 higher education shall adopt a policy required by Section
3-9 51.960(a), Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than
3-10 November 1, 1999.
3-11 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.