SRC-MWN S.B. 903 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 903
By: Van de Putte
Education
5/31/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Athletic opportunities for men have traditionally been greater than those
available to women. S.B. 903 establishes the women's development fund,
administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, to help
reduce the disparity between women's and men's athletics and to promote
equity. S.B. 903 additionally expands opportunities to high school students
whose schools due to economic factors have limited athletic facilities,
programs, and opportunities. 

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 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 is a fund 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 that are 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 programs to be supported with money from the fund, to give
priority to programs addressing the needs of public high schools whose
economic conditions limit their access to athletic facilities, programs,
and opportunities. Requires the board to also consider other relevant
factors, including whether a program meets certain criteria. 

Sec. 51.835. FUNDING. Prohibits the board from implementing this subchapter
unless the money is specifically appropriated for that purpose. 

SECTION 2. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to
conduct a best practices study of woman's athletic development programs
currently operated by public institutions of higher education in Texas and
in other states and make its findings and recommendations available not
later than December 1, 2002, in a report to the legislature and to the
public institutions of higher education in this state. Requires the report
to include analysis of the effect of the programs studied under this
section on subsequent student enrollment in and academic performance at
public or private institutions of higher education. 
 
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.