By: Seliger, et al. S.B. No. 1531
 
  (Branch)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to providing information to entering undergraduate
  students at certain general academic teaching institutions to
  promote timely graduation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.9195 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.9195.  INFORMATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
  REGARDING BENEFITS OF TIMELY GRADUATION. (a)  In this section,
  "general academic teaching institution" and "public state college" 
  have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
         (b)  This section applies only to a general academic teaching
  institution other than a public state college.
         (c)  An institution to which this section applies shall
  provide to each first-time entering undergraduate student,
  including each undergraduate student who transfers to the
  institution, information in electronic or paper format that
  includes, based on a reasonable projection by the institution using
  the most recently available data:
               (1)  a comparison of the average total amounts of
  tuition and fees paid by a full-time student who graduates from the
  institution in the following number of academic years:
                     (A)  four years;
                     (B)  five years; and
                     (C)  six years; and
               (2)  an estimate of the average earnings lost by a
  recent graduate of the institution as a result of graduating after
  five or six years instead of four years.
         (d)  An institution to which this section applies shall
  include with the information provided to a student under Subsection
  (c):
               (1)  a list of actions that the student can take to
  facilitate graduating from the institution in a timely manner; and
               (2)  contact information for available academic,
  career, and other related support services at the institution to
  assist the student in that effort.
         (e)  An institution to which this section applies may satisfy
  the requirements of Subsections (c)(1) and (2) with regard to a
  student by providing the student with information that is more
  specific than the information described by those subdivisions.
         SECTION 2.  Section 51.9195, Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies beginning with undergraduate students who
  initially enroll in a general academic teaching institution for the
  2014 fall semester.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.