BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 1813
85R24630 SRS-F	By: Buckingham
	Higher Education
	4/20/2017
	Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Students applying to certain institutions of higher education (IHE) in Texas utilize the Apply-TEXAS application process. This process allows students to fill out one uniform application online and submit it to participating universities through the website. Currently, the Apply-Texas application is used by all public universities as well as a number of private institutions in Texas. Uniformity in the process has allowed students to better prepare for their application and devote time to one application rather than repeating the process for each school.

 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is responsible for administering the Apply-TEXAS application. To oversee this process, THECB has created an advisory board, which is currently comprised of representatives from general academic teaching institutions, junior college districts, public state colleges, and public technical institutions. However, interested parties have suggested that the current structure of the board would benefit by expanding the board to include additional stakeholder representatives.

 

To address this issue, S.B. 1813 seeks the inclusion of high school counselors and a representative from a private or independent IHE in the advisory committee. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

C.S.S.B. 1813 amends current law relating to common admission application forms for institutions of higher education.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is modified in SECTION 2 (Section 51.762, Education Code) of this bill.

 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to THECB is rescinded in SECTION 4 (Section 51.762, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 51.761, Education Code, to define "medical and dental unit" and "private or independent institution of higher education."

 

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 51.762(a), (f), and (h), Education Code, as follows:

 

(a) Provides that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), with the assistance of high school counselors and an advisory committee composed of representatives of certain academic institutions, including private or independent institutions of higher education (IHEs), rather than with the consultation of all IHEs that admit freshmen-level students:

 

(1) is required to adopt by rule:

 

(A) a common admission application form for use by a person seeking admission, rather than a person seeking admission as a freshman student, to a general academic teaching institution;

 

(B) an electronic common admission application form for use by a person seeking admission to an IHE, rather than a person seeking admission as a freshman student to an IHE that admits freshman-level students, other than a general academic teaching institution or a medical and dental unit; and

 

(C) makes no changes to this paragraph; and

 

(2) makes no changes to this subdivision.

 

(f) Requires THECB to ensure that copies of the common admission application forms, rather than copies of the freshman common admission application forms, appropriate for use by a person seeking admission to an IHE as a freshman student and information for the use of the forms are available in electronic format to the appropriate personnel, rather than for distribution to the appropriate personnel, at each public high school in this state.

 

(h) Authorizes an applicant to file, and requires each IHE to accept, an application for admission, rather than an application for admission as an entering freshman or undergraduate transfer student, that uses the appropriate form adopted under this section.

 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 51.763(a), Education Code, to make a conforming change.

 

SECTION 4. Repealer: Section 51.762(b) (relating to authorizing THECB by rule to adopt a certain common application form), Education Code.

 

SECTION 5. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply beginning with applications for admission to IHEs for the 2018-2019 academic year.

 

SECTION 6. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.