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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring public institutions of higher education to |
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request student disciplinary records for certain applicants for |
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admission to the institution. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9246 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9246. REQUEST FOR DISCIPLINARY RECORDS OF CERTAIN |
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APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(3) "Postsecondary educational institution" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 56.003. |
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(b) On receipt of an admissions application from an |
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applicant requesting undergraduate transfer admission to the |
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institution or admission to a graduate, postgraduate, or |
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professional program offered by the institution, an institution of |
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higher education shall request the student's disciplinary records |
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from each postsecondary educational institution at which the |
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applicant was previously enrolled, as identified in the applicant's |
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admissions application. |
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(c) Subject to the limitation prescribed by Subsection (d), |
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an institution of higher education that receives a request for a |
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student's disciplinary records from another institution of higher |
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education under Subsection (b) shall deliver a copy of the records |
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to the requesting institution as soon as practicable. The records |
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must state the factual basis of any disciplinary action taken by the |
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institution against the student. |
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(d) An institution of higher education that is required to |
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release student disciplinary records under Subsection (c) shall |
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comply with any applicable provision of federal law regarding |
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confidentiality of student educational information, including the |
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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. |
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Section 1232g). |
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(e) The coordinating board shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section in a manner that ensures compliance with |
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federal law regarding confidentiality of student educational |
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information, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy |
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Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g). |
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SECTION 2. Section 51.9246, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with admissions applications received |
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by a public institution of higher education on or after January 1, |
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2016. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement Section 51.9246, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |