BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

C.S.S.B. 802

85R17608 KJE-D

By: Seliger

 

Higher Education

 

3/15/2017

 

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Articulation agreements, partnerships between institutions of higher education to transfer and accept specific course credits from one another, are prevalent throughout Texas' institutions and are an integral part of the transfer system. The number and scope of agreements vary from institution to institution and can be difficult for transfer students to navigate.

 

C.S.S.B. 802 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to collect data and report to the legislature on best practices between these higher education institutional partnerships. Currently, little data is collected on which institutions have articulation agreements with one another and which majors those agreements are centered around. This bill allows the legislature to gain a better understanding of the types of articulation agreements that exist and learn best practices that could be duplicated.

 

C.S.S.B. 802 amends current law relating to a study and report regarding best practices in the transfer of course credit between public institutions of higher education.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.0667, as follows:

 

Sec. 61.0667. STUDY ON BEST PRACTICES IN CREDIT TRANSFER. (a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a study to identify best practices in ensuring that courses transferred to an institution of higher education (IHE) for course credit, including courses offered for dual credit, apply toward a degree program at the IHE.

 

(b) Requires that the study evaluate existing articulation agreements that govern the transfer of course credit between IHEs, and identify those IHEs that are implementing the best practices identified under Subsection (a).

 

(c) Requires an IHE, on request, to provide information to THECB as necessary for THECB to perform its duties under this section.

 

(d) Requires THECB, not later than November 1, 2018, to submit to the legislature the results of its study under this section and recommendations for legislative or other action.

 

(e) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2019.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.