BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 480
80R5793 KEL-D By: Janek
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Section 61.003(15), Education Code, defines "private or independent institutions of higher education" to include private or independent colleges or universities accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education but not the American Bar Association (ABA), due to a drafting oversight. The ABA is the only accrediting body for law schools in the United States. The Texas statutes reference this definition of private or independent institutions of higher education more than 60 times, in areas ranging from eligibility for student financial aid to state recordkeeping requirements.
As proposed, S.B. 480 includes institutions accredited by the ABA in the definition of private or independent institutions of higher education and applies only to South Texas College of Law, the only independent law school in Texas.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 61.003(15), Education Code, to expand the accrediting organizations of a "private or independent institution of higher education" to include the American Bar Association.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.