BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 2119
85R24694 KSD-D	By: Seliger; Creighton
	Higher Education
	4/20/2017
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In 1997, Texas established the Top Ten Percent Rule, which allowed students graduating in the top 10 percent of their high school class automatic admissions into any Texas public institution of higher education. In particular, this policy has limited who can attend The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). An institution, such as UT-Austin, should have the ability to consider criteria other than only an applicant's high school rank when making admission decisions. Almost two decades later, diversity at colleges and universities in Texas still does not mirror student body demographics with those of the state.

Using class rank as the sole admissions factor for a majority of students admitted into Texas' flagship universities is outdated. S.B. 2119 repeals Texas' Top Ten Percent Rule, which would allow Texas' higher education institutions to determine their own admissions criteria and develop more appropriate policies for increasing diversity. (Original Author�s / Sponsor�s Statement of Intent)

C.S.S.B. 2119 amends current law relating to the automatic admission of students to general academic teaching institutions.

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 Sections 51.803(a-1), (a-2), and (a-6), Education Code, as follows:

(a-1) Provides that beginning with admissions for the 2021-2022 academic year, rather than 2011-2012 academic year, a general academic teaching institution (institution), rather than The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin), is not required to offer admission to applicants who qualify for automatic admission under Subsection (a) (relating to the requirement of each general academic teaching institution to admit an applicant for admission under certain circumstances) in excess of the number required to fill 30 percent, rather than 75 percent, of the institution's, rather than the university's, enrollment capacity designated for first-time resident undergraduate students in an academic year. Makes conforming changes.

(a-2) Makes a conforming change.

(a-6) Replaces references to UT-Austin with an institution. Requires certain institutions to deliver a written report to certain persons, not later than December 31 of each academic year, regarding the institution's progress in certain matters, including assessing and improving the institution's regional recruitment efforts, rather than centers.�

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with admissions to an institution for the 2021-2022 academic year. Provides that admissions to an institution for an academic period before that academic year are governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.