1-1 By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 903 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 23, 2001; February 26, 2001, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Education; 1-4 May 8, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, 1-5 Nays 0; May 8, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the establishment and use of a women's athletic 1-9 development fund and a study of women's athletic development 1-10 practices at institutions of higher education. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-13 Subchapter V to read as follows: 1-14 SUBCHAPTER V. WOMEN'S ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT FUND 1-15 Sec. 51.831. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: 1-16 (1) "Board" has the meaning assigned by Section 1-17 61.003. 1-18 (2) "Fund" means the women's athletic development fund 1-19 established under this subchapter. 1-20 (3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning 1-21 assigned by Section 61.003. 1-22 Sec. 51.832. ADMINISTRATION OF FUND. The women's athletic 1-23 development fund is a fund in the state treasury. The board shall 1-24 administer the fund. 1-25 Sec. 51.833. USE OF FUND. The board shall allocate money in 1-26 the fund to institutions of higher education to support women's 1-27 athletic development programs that are operated by the institution 1-28 on a collaborative basis with one or more public high schools in 1-29 this state. 1-30 Sec. 51.834. CRITERIA IN SELECTING PROGRAMS. In selecting 1-31 programs to be supported with money from the fund, the board shall 1-32 give priority to programs addressing the needs of public high 1-33 school students whose economic conditions limit their access to 1-34 athletic facilities, programs, and opportunities. The board shall 1-35 also consider other relevant factors, including whether a program: 1-36 (1) promotes gender equity; 1-37 (2) includes the participation of collegiate-level 1-38 coaches and athletes, to the extent the participation is allowed by 1-39 the rules of the national intercollegiate athletic association of 1-40 which the institution of higher education operating the program is 1-41 a member; and 1-42 (3) has a history of increasing athletic 1-43 opportunities. 1-44 Sec. 51.835. FUNDING. The board may not implement this 1-45 subchapter unless money is specifically appropriated for that 1-46 purpose. 1-47 SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating 1-48 Board shall conduct a best practices study of women's athletic 1-49 development programs currently operated by public institutions of 1-50 higher education in Texas and in other states and shall make its 1-51 findings and recommendations available not later than December 1, 1-52 2002, in a report to the legislature and to the public institutions 1-53 of higher education in this state. 1-54 (b) The report shall include an analysis of the effect of 1-55 the programs studied under Subsection (a) of this section on 1-56 subsequent student enrollment in and academic performance at public 1-57 or private institutions of higher education. 1-58 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-59 * * * * *