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  81R35855 KSD-F
 
  By: Zaffirini, et al. S.B. No. 1394
 
  Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1394:
 
  By:  Branch C.S.S.B. No. 1394
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to notification of an applicant for admission to a general
  academic teaching institution regarding the availability of degree
  programs in the applicant's preferred major field of study offered
  by other institutions.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter S, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.7635 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.7635.  NOTIFICATION REGARDING DEGREE PROGRAMS
  OFFERED BY OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN APPLICANT'S PREFERRED MAJOR FIELD.
  (a)  Each applicant for admission to a general academic teaching
  institution who designates on the applicant's online common
  admission application form or other electronic application form
  applicable to all general academic teaching institutions one or
  more choices or preferences for the applicant's major field of
  study must promptly be redirected by the application website to a
  notification regarding the availability of degree programs in that
  field of study offered by general academic teaching institutions.
         (b)  The notification required by Subsection (a) must
  include a list of those general academic teaching institutions
  offering comparable degree programs in the applicant's designated
  field of study, and must provide the following information, or
  electronic links to the following information, for each
  institution:
               (1)  the institution's location and distance from the
  applicant's home zip code;
               (2)  a description of the programs offered by the
  institution in the applicant's designated major field of study;
               (3)  graduation and retention rate information for the
  institution; and
               (4)  any other information the board considers
  appropriate to assist the applicant in selecting among
  institutions.
         (c)  In addition to providing the notification required by
  Subsection (a), if a general academic teaching institution denies
  admission to any applicant who designated one or more choices or
  preferences for the applicant's major field of study on a timely and
  complete application form described by Subsection (a), the
  institution shall include in its notice of denial a link to detailed
  information available on the application website regarding the
  availability of degree programs in that field of study offered by
  other general academic teaching institutions.
         (d)  The provision and receipt of information under this
  section does not guarantee the availability of a degree program or
  admission to a degree program and does not constitute a waiver of
  any applicable admissions application deadline.
         (e)  The board, in consultation with the appropriate
  advisory committees for common application forms, shall adopt rules
  as necessary for the administration of this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 51.7635, Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies beginning with applicants for admission to a
  general academic teaching institution for the 2011-2012 academic
  year.
         SECTION 3.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt the rules required by Section 51.7635, Education Code,
  as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes
  effect. For that purpose, the coordinating board may adopt the
  initial rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.
         SECTION 4.  This Act does not make an appropriation.  A
  provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program,
  creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental
  entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the
  legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the
  provision.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2009.