SRC-MWN H.B. 1641 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1641
By: Rangel (Barrientos)
Education
4/23/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, minority students and students from rural areas are
underrepresented in the professional and graduate schools of Texas state
universities. H.B. 1641 establishes certain criteria that may be utilized
in making admission and scholarship decisions. H.B. 1641 also requires that
the use of standardized tests in admission and scholarship decisions be
utilized within certain parameters.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.823, Education Code) and
SECTION 2, and to each general academic teaching institution and each
medical and dental unit in SECTION 2 of this bill. 
 
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Subchapter V,  as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER V. ADMISSION AND SCHOLARSHIP
POLICIES FOR GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

Sec. 51.821. DEFINITIONS. Defines "general academic teaching institution,"
"graduate program," and "professional program." 

Sec. 51.822. ADMISSION AND SCHOLARSHIP FACTORS FOR GRADUATE AND
PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS. (a) Authorizes a graduate or professional program of
a general academic teaching institution or medical or dental unit to
consider certain factors in making an admissions or scholarship decision
for admissions into or competitive scholarships for the graduate or
professional program. 

(b) Authorizes an applicant's performance on a standardized text to be used
in the admissions or competitive scholarship process only to compare the
applicant's test score with those of other applicants from similar
socioeconomic backgrounds. Provides that if an applicant's performance on a
standardized test is used for that purpose, it is required to be considered
together with other compensatory criteria and is prohibited from accounting
for more than 25 percent of the weight assigned to factors considered in
the admission or competitive scholarship process. 

(c) Requires each general academic teaching institution or medical and
dental unit, within a certain period, to publish in the catalog of the
institution or unit a description of the factors to be considered by the
institution or unit in making those admissions and competitive scholarship
decisions and to make the information available to the public. 

(d) Provides that the requirements of Subsection (c) do not apply to
admissions and competitive scholarships for the 2002 fall semester.
Requires each institution or unit covered by Subsection (c) to make the
required information available to the public and  to applicants to its
graduate and professional programs not later than December 1, 2001, for the
2002 fall semester. Provides that this subsection expires September 1,
2002. 

Sec. 51.823. RULEMAKING. Authorizes the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board to adopt rules relating to the operation of admissions and
competitive scholarship processes under this subchapter. 

SECTION 2. (a) Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies
with the 2002-2003 academic year. 

(b) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, each general
academic teaching institution, and each medical and dental unit to adopt
rules or policies relating to the admission of students and awarding of
scholarships not later than December 1, 2001. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.