BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center

79R819 JRJ-D                                                                                                                      S.B. 302

                                                                                                                                              By: Ellis

                                                                                                                    S/C on Higher Education

3/2/2005

As Filed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Texas universities and colleges have continued to experience persistent minority under-representation problems. As proposed, S.B. 302, will enable the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to better monitor universities' minority outreach efforts. By requiring universities and colleges to provide information on their efforts/strategies to increase minority enrollment, the minority under-representation dilemma will be better understood. 

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 the heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER H.  GUIDELINES FOR ACADEMIC AND OTHER REPORTS BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING

SECTION 2.  Amends  Subchapter H, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.4032, as follows:

            Sec.  51.4032.  ANNUAL REPORT OF MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER   EDUCATION.  (a)  Sets forth that a racial or ethnic group is underrepresented in the           undergraduate or graduate student body of an institution of higher education if the     percentage of that student body consisting of members of the racial or ethnic group is less      than the percentage of the population of this state consisting of members of that racial or             ethnic group.

            (b)  Requires each institution of higher education, not later than July 1 of each year, to      submit a report to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) detailing its          strategies for increasing the number of undergraduate and graduate students who enroll in the institution from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the institution's   undergraduate or graduate student body.  Requires the report to include certain             information.

            (c)  Requires the report to be in the form prescribed by the board in consultation with the institution.  Requires the board to specify the racial and ethnic groups that must be       included in the report.

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 61.080(a), Education Code, to require the board to collect data relating to the enrollment strategies reported to the board by institutions of higher education.

SECTION 4.  Requires, not later than July 1, 2006, each public institution of higher education in this state to submit the first report required by Section 51.4032.

SECTION 5.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2005.