BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 31

By: Zaffirini

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that, while dual credit courses have increased in popularity, the courses offered are rarely transferrable, which limits the effectiveness of dual credit as a means of expanding college access and success. Nevertheless, current law allows institutions of higher education to receive formula funding for dual credit coursework, regardless of whether the course is likely to transfer.

S.B. 31 seeks to incentivize institutions of higher education to provide dual credit courses that will be transferrable to a two-year or four-year institution.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 31 amends the Education Code to prohibit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in its instruction and operations appropriations formula applicable to an institution of higher education, from including any semester credit hours earned for dual course credit at the institution unless those credit hours are earned through a course in the core curriculum of the institution providing course credit; a career and technical education course that applies to any certificate or associate's degree offered by the institution providing course credit; or a foreign language course. The bill exempts from this prohibition a course completed by a student as part of the early college education program established and administered by the commissioner of education.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.