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.