BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1680

By: West

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that Paul Quinn College is not currently eligible to receive tuition equalization grant funds due to having relinquished its regional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, but it has retained national accreditation by another accrediting body recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and has recently achieved federal recognition as a work college. S.B. 1680 seeks to provide alternative eligibility criteria under which institutions such as Paul Quinn College may qualify for tuition equalization grants.

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. 1680 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to approve for purposes of tuition equalization grants a private or independent institution of higher education that previously qualified on grounds of meeting the same program standards and accreditation as public institutions of higher education but no longer holds that same accreditation, if the institution meets the following criteria:

· is accredited by an accreditor recognized by the coordinating board;

· is a work college, as defined by federal law; and

· is participating in a certain federal financial aid program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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