SRC-TJG S.B. 1541 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1541
By: Shapiro
Education
4/6/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a governing board of a university is not required to adopt
standards to help ensure an affordable, accessible, accountable, and high
quality system of higher education.  As proposed, S.B. 1541 requires each
governing board of a university to adopt certain standards and to file an
annual performance report of each institution of higher education under
its jurisdiction. 

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 51H, Education Code, by adding Section 51.4015,
as follows: 

Sec. 51.4015.  (a) ACCOUNTABILITY OF, AND REPORTING BY, INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION.  Defines "institution of higher education," "governing
board," and "university system." 

(b) Requires each governing board of a university system to adopt
standards that measure the performance of each institution of higher
education under its jurisdiction, in furtherance of the policies of this
state to provide an affordable, accessible, accountable, and high quality
system of higher education that prepares individuals for a changing
economy and workforce and to promote the development and application of
knowledge through instruction, research, and public service. 

(c) Requires the standards required by Subsection (b) to include certain
provisions.  

(d) Requires the governing body of each university to file an annual
report of the performance of each institution of higher education under
its jurisdiction in meeting the standards adopted under this section.
Requires the report to be filed with certain entities.  Provides that the
report is due February 1 following each academic year. 

(e) Provides that the report required by Subsection (d) is the only
periodic report of the performance of each institution of higher education
required to be made other than a report specifically required by the
General Appropriations Act. Provides that the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board is not required to prepare a summary of the report
required by this section as otherwise would be required by Section 51.404. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2003. 
           Provides that the first report required by Section 51.4015,
Education Code, as                     added by this Act, is due February
1, 2004.