BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 277
86R1230 KSD-D	By: Oliverson et al. (Creighton)
	Higher Education
	4/29/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Concerns have been raised that Texas high school students applying to college may be unaware of job market conditions and thus miss opportunities to focus their efforts in fields of study that would lead to full-time employment upon graduation. H.B. 277 seeks to address this problem by requiring electronic common admission application forms for public institutions of higher education to link to certain comparative gainful employment data.

H.B. 277 requires an electronic common admission application form adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) or by the governing board of a university system to include a prominent link to comparative gainful employment data regarding institutions of higher education, including certain information prepared by the Texas Education Agency, on a website maintained by THECB or the governing board, using data compiled by the applicable board in coordination with the Texas Workforce Commission.

H.B. 277 amends current law relating to a requirement that online admission application forms for public institutions of higher education include a link to certain comparative gainful employment data.

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 �Section 51.762, Education Code, by adding Subsection (b-1), as follows:

(b-1)� Requires an electronic common admission application form adopted under this section (Common Admission Application Forms) to include a prominent link to comparative gainful employment data regarding institutions of higher education, including information described by Section 7.040 (Postsecondary Education and Career Opportunities), on a website maintained by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) using data compiled by THECB in coordination with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).

SECTION 2. Amends Section 51.763(b), Education Code, as follows:

(b) Makes nonsubstantive changes. Requires the common admission application form to include a prominent link to comparative gainful employment data regarding institutions of higher education, including information described by Section 7.040, on a website maintained by THECB using data compiled by THECB in coordination with TWC.

SECTION 3. Requires THECB and the governing board of a university system to comply with Section 51.762(b-1) or 51.763(b)(2), Education Code, as added by this Act, as applicable, as soon as practicable following the effective date of this Act but not later than January 1, 2020.

SECTION 4 Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.