BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1017

By: Powell

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls to improve access to postsecondary education for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. S.B. 1017 seeks to provide for such access by establishing an advisory council to develop relevant outreach materials and provide advice and recommendations on this issue to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The bill also requires the coordinating board to update its inventory of appropriate programs and services more frequently.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1017 amends the Education Code to change the frequency with which the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is required to update the coordinating board inventory of postsecondary educational programs and services provided for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities by public institutions of higher education from once every two years to annually. The bill requires the coordinating board, with the assistance of the advisory council established by the bill, to periodically review the policies and practices that increase access to higher education opportunities for such persons and to distribute educational outreach materials developed by the advisory council to increase awareness regarding those opportunities.

S.B. 1017 requires the coordinating board to establish an advisory council on postsecondary education for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to advise the coordinating board on policies and practices to improve postsecondary education opportunities for such persons. The bill sets out the membership and method of appointment of the advisory council and provides for the members' terms of service and reimbursement of expenses. The bill provides for the election of a presiding officer and the frequency and methods of meeting and establishes that a meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method is subject to certain provisions of state open meetings law. The bill requires the coordinating board to provide administrative support for the advisory council.

S.B. 1017 requires the advisory council to study the accessibility of higher education for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities; provide advice regarding resolving barriers to accessing higher education for such persons; and identify, evaluate, and develop recommendations to address barriers to accessing higher education for such persons who are or have been in the foster care system and any data collection issues in relation to those persons. 

S.B. 1017 requires the advisory council to submit a report to the coordinating board annually at a time determined by the coordinating board. The bill requires the advisory council, not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, to provide a report to the coordinating board and to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the members of the legislature, and, as necessary, other state agencies or relevant stakeholders. The bill sets out the respective required contents of those reports.

S.B. 1017 requires the appropriate appointing authorities to appoint the members to the advisory council not later than January 1, 2020. The bill requires the advisory council to complete the required initial reports not later than December 1, 2020.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.