SRC-TAG, MLC S.B. 170 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 170 78R2839 KEL-DBy: Barrientos Education 3/4/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under Section 61.086 (Uniform Recruitment and Retention Strategy) of the Education Code the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is required to develop and annually update a uniform strategy to identify, attract, retain, and enroll students in order to reflect the population of this state. With the creation of Section 61.086, the legislature recognized the need to address the racial disparity among the undergraduate student body at state institutions of higher education. In addition, a diverse faculty can positively impact the creation and retention of a diverse student body. As proposed, S.B. 170 directs the THECB to develop a uniform strategy to identify, attract, hire, and retain faculty and staff that also reflect the population of this state. 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 61C, Education Code, by adding Section 61.0865, as follows: Section 61.0865. FACULTY AND STAFF UNIFORM RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGY. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to develop and annually update a uniform strategy to enable higher education institutions to recruit and retain faculty and staff who are representative of the Texas population. Requires higher education institutions in Texas to implement such a uniform faculty and staff recruitment and retention strategy and to report annually to THECB the manner in which the institution has implemented it. SECTION 2. Requires THECB to adopt the uniform faculty and staff recruitment and retention strategy no later than July 30, 2004. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.