BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 976

By: West

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires a private or independent college or university to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to participate in the tuition equalization grant program. Interested parties note that, in some instances, a private or independent college or university may lose its accreditation and contend that if the college or university is on track to restore its accreditation it should be granted temporary approval to continue participating in the grant program. S.B. 976 seeks to provide for this temporary approval.

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. 976 amends the Education Code to authorize the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to temporarily approve for participation in the tuition equalization grant program a private or independent institution of higher education that previously qualified as an approved institution but no longer holds the same accreditation as public institutions of higher education. The bill requires such an institution, in order to qualify, to be accredited by an accreditor recognized by the coordinating board; to be actively working toward the same accreditation as public institutions of higher education; to be participating in the federal financial aid program; and to be a "part B institution" as defined by federal law. The bill authorizes the coordinating board to grant temporary approval for a period of two years and to renew the approval once.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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