BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 802

By: Seliger

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties suggest a need for a legislative study of partnerships between public institutions of higher education to transfer and accept specific course credits from one another. S.B. 802 seeks to assist the legislature in better understanding the types of such partnerships that exist and relevant best practices that could be duplicated by requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct such a study.

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. 802 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct a study to identify best practices in ensuring that courses transferred to a public institution of higher education for course credit, including courses offered for dual credit, apply toward a degree program at the institution. The bill requires the study to evaluate existing articulation agreements that govern the transfer of course credit between institutions of higher education and to identify those institutions of higher education that are implementing such identified best practices. The bill requires an institution of higher education to provide information on request to the board as necessary for the board to perform its duties under the bill's provisions. The bill requires the board, not later than November 1, 2018, to submit to the legislature the results of its study and recommendations for legislative or other action. These provisions expire September 1, 2019.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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