BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 249

By: Schwertner

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties suggest that members of the legislature should have the opportunity to review the affordability and access report provided by the chief executive officer of each institution of higher education to the governing board of the institution. S.B. 249 seeks to grant that opportunity by including the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as a recipient of the report and requiring the coordinating board to provide the report to members of the legislature.

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. 249 amends the Education Code to include the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as a recipient of the affordability and access report provided by the chief executive officer of each public institution of higher education not later than November 1 of each year. The bill requires the coordinating board to provide the report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature and authorizes the coordinating board to provide the report electronically.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.