BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 685

By: Seliger

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to interested parties, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission currently execute agreements for the purpose of sharing data for the preparation of education and workforce studies at education research centers. Education research centers, the parties continue, were created to conduct research for the benefit of education in Texas, with advisory boards that evaluate proposals and ensure appropriate data use, including compliance with state and federal laws governing data use and access. Currently, the parties note, these advisory boards are not subject to open records requests or open meetings law. S.B. 685 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 685 amends the Education Code to establish that an education research center advisory board is considered to be a governmental body for purposes of state open meetings and public information law. The bill specifies that the conducting of any advisory board meeting by electronic means may be done to the extent and in the manner authorized by state open meetings law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.