By: Morrison Senate Sponsor-Shapiro H.B. No. 3851
       (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2007;
May 14, 2007, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on
Higher Education; May 21, 2007, reported favorably, as amended,
from Committee on Education by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 1;
May 21, 2007, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the admission of high school graduates and
undergraduate transfer students to certain institutions of higher
education, the computation of a student's high school grade point
average for purposes of determining eligibility for admission, and
policies to promote the admission of undergraduate transfer
students.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 28.0252(b), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
       (b)  If the commissioner develops a standard method under
this section, a school district shall use the standard method to
compute a student's high school grade point average, except that to
the extent of a conflict between that method and the method adopted
under Section 51.807, [and] the student's grade point average
computed in accordance with the method established under Section
51.807 [that manner] shall be used in determining the student's
eligibility for university [automatic college] admission under
Subchapter U, Chapter 51 [Section 51.803].
       SECTION 2.  Section 51.807, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
       Sec. 51.807.  RULEMAKING.  (a)  To ensure a uniform standard
for admissions under this subchapter, the [The] Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules establishing a
standard method for computing a student's high school grade point
average. The method established under this subsection:
             (1)  must:
                   (A)  be based on a four-point scale; and
                   (B)  assign additional weight, as the board
considers appropriate, for each honors course, advanced placement
course, international baccalaureate course, or dual credit course
completed by a student; and
             (2)  may result in a student having a grade point
average higher than 4.0 on a four-point scale as a result of the
assignment of additional weight for one or more courses completed
by a student under Subdivision (1)(B).
       (b)  The board may adopt other rules relating to the
operation of admissions programs under this subchapter, including
rules relating to the identification of eligible students [and the
reporting requirements of Section 51.806].
       (c)  The standard method established under Subsection (a)
for computing a student's high school grade point average applies
to computing the grade point average of a student applying as a
first-time freshman for admission to a general academic teaching
institution beginning with admissions for the 2009 fall semester.
This subsection expires January 1, 2010.
       SECTION 3.  Section 51.4032, Education Code, as added by
Chapter 694, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005,
is amended to read as follows:
       Sec. 51.4032.  ANNUAL REPORT OF PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER
EDUCATION.  Not later than July 31 of each year and in the form
prescribed by the coordinating board, each general academic
teaching institution and medical and dental unit as defined in
Section 61.003 shall provide to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board a report describing the composition of the
institution's entering class of students. The report must include
a demographic breakdown of the class, including a breakdown by
race, ethnicity, [and] economic status, and high school grade point
average. A report submitted by a general academic teaching
institution or medical and dental unit as defined in Section 61.003
must include separate demographic breakdowns of the students
admitted under Sections 51.803, 51.804, and 51.805.
       SECTION 4.  Section 51.808, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
       Sec. 51.808.  APPLICATION OF ADMISSION CRITERIA TO OTHER
PROGRAMS.  (a)  Each general academic teaching institution or
medical and dental unit that offers admissions to undergraduate
transfer students or admissions to a graduate, postgraduate, or
professional program shall [also] adopt a written admission policy
applicable to those programs.
       (b)  Each general academic teaching institution shall adopt
a written admission policy to promote the admission of
undergraduate transfer students to the institution. The policy
must provide for outreach and recruiting efforts directed at junior
colleges and other lower-division institutions of higher education
and may include incentives to encourage transfer applications and
to retain and promote transfer students.
       (c)  A [The] policy adopted under this section shall be
published in the institution's or unit's catalog and made available
to the public.
       SECTION 5.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules as required by Section 51.807, Education Code, as
amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act.
       SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
* * * * *