SRC-MWN S.B. 573 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 573
77R6029 QS-DBy: Bivins
Education
2/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, college recruiting efforts are projected to not be sufficient to
meet the state goal of enrolling 500,000 more students in higher education
by 2015. As proposed, S.B. 573 directs the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish a statewide higher education
campaign with a focus on the value and availability of higher education.
S.B. 573 also allows THECB to work with other agencies to develop and
implement the campaign and to solicit funds for the campaign. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Subchapter X, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER X. PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN PROMOTING HIGHER EDUCATION

Sec. 61.951. PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. Requires the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (board) to establish a statewide public awareness
campaign to promote the value and availability of higher education.
Authorizes the campaign to include the provision of information regarding
certain criteria. 

Sec. 61.952. TARGET AUDIENCE. Requires the campaign established by the
board to target primary and secondary school students. Requires the board
to give priority to reaching primary and secondary school students from
groups or backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresnted in higher
education. 

Sec. 61.953. COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES. Authorizes the board to
coordinate with other agencies as necessary to develop and implement the
public awareness campaign. 

Sec. 61.954. FUNDING. Authorizes the board to use any available revenue,
including legislative appropriations, and to solicit and accept certain
items to undertake the campaign. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.