BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1730

By: Zaffirini

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

S.B. 1730 amends current law relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create a tool to allow prospective students to compare general academic teaching institutions by certain criteria.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 61.09021.  COMPARISON TOOL.  (a)  Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to make available to the public on the THECB's Internet website a search tool that allows a person to compare general academic teaching institutions that meet certain criteria selected by the person, including offering a particular major or program of study.

(b)  Requires the comparison tool required under this section to:

(1)  be accessible from THECB's Internet website;

(2)  allow a user to identify general academic teaching institutions according to selection criteria as determined by THECB; and

(3)  be accessible to the public without requiring registration or use of a user name, password, or other user identification.

(c)  Requires the comparison tool required under this section to generate a comparison chart in a grid format that lists the general academic teaching institutions that match a user's search criteria, and provides information for each institution listed that THECB has determined would aid a prospective student in evaluating the institution.

(d)  Requires the Internet page displaying the comparison chart to include a link to the Internet website of the Texas Workforce Commission.

(e) Requires that the information provided under Subsection (c), to the extent practicable, consist of information that a general academic teaching institution is required to report to THECB under another provision of law, including THECB rule.

(f)  Requires each general academic teaching institution to provide to THECB the information to be provided under Subsection (c) not later than October 1, or a date determined by THECB, of each year.  Requries THECB to update the comparison tool as soon as practicable after receiving information from each institution.

SECTION 2. Requires THECB, not later than February 1, 2013, to create and post on THECB's Internet website the comparison tool required by Section 61.09021, Education Code, as added by this Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.