BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1702
86R20724 SOS-F	By: Howard et al. (Hancock)
	Higher Education
	4/22/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In 2015, the legislature required each institution of higher education to designate an employee as a liaison officer for current or incoming students at their institution who were formerly in conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services, or foster care. H.B. 1702 adds additional language to this position to make these liaisons more effective at serving this at‑risk population.

H.B. 1702 requires the liaison officer to obtain a list from their institution of higher education of current and incoming students who are currently or were formerly in foster care, in order to better recognize who they are responsible for serving. Additionally, it requires the institution of higher education to publicize the name and contact information of the liaison officer, as well as information on services available to former foster youth at the institution, and gives options for how the institution may publicize this information. Finally, H.B. 1702 clarifies that the liaison officer may participate in any training that is available to assist them with their job.

H.B. 1702 amends current law relating to services provided for students at public institutions of higher education who are or were in foster care.

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 the heading to Section 51.9356, Education Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 51.9356. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST STUDENTS WHO ARE OR WERE IN FOSTER CARE.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 51.9356, Education Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f), as follows:

(b) Requires each institution of higher education to designate at least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer for current and incoming students at the institution who are or were formerly in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), rather than incoming students at the institution who were formerly in the conservatorship of DFPS. Requires the institution, to the extent allowed by state or federal law, to identify those students from information provided to the institution in admission or financial aid applications or other available resources.

(c) Requires an institution of higher education, each semester or other academic term, to provide to the institution's liaison officer the names of and information regarding the students described by Subsection (b).

(d) Creates this subsection from existing text. Requires the liaison officer to provide to the students described by Subsection (b), rather than those students, information regarding support services and other resources available to the students at the institution and any other relevant information to assist the students.

(e) Authorizes the liaison officer to participate in any training that enables the officer to carry out the officer's duties and coordinate with liaison officers at other educational institutions.

(f) Requires each institution of higher education to publicize, including through the institution's Internet website, social media, electronic mail, or other means of communication used by the institution the name of and contact information for the institution's liaison officer and information regarding support services and other resources available at the institution to the students described by Subsection (b).

SECTION 3. Requires each public institution of higher education, not later than January 1, 2020, to publicize the information required by Section 51.9356(f), Education Code, as added by this Act.

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