BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4202

By: Rose

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Paul Quinn College is a liberal arts work college that was originally created to educate freed slaves and their children. Paul Quinn College currently serves as the ninth federally funded work college in the United States and the first minority serving institution in the Work Colleges Consortium. In addition, it is the first work college in Texas. A work college is a four‑year degree granting institution that engages students in the purposeful integration of workforce development and community service.

Work colleges require all on-campus students to maintain gainful employment on or off campus throughout their college career. As a result, students experience a reduction of tuition and fees, and low amounts of debt. However, Paul Quinn College's classification as a work college limits students' ability to access the TexShare library consortium that public and private colleges and universities are able to access. The TexShare library consortium allows colleges and universities to access archived Texas records, create information networks with other universities and colleges in Texas, access public records, and assist students who struggle with reading disabilities.

C.S.H.B. 4202 makes work colleges eligible to access the TexShare library consortium to better serve the students at work colleges like Paul Quinn College.

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

C.S.H.B. 4202 amends the Government Code to make a work college, as that term is defined by specified federal law, eligible for membership in the TexShare library consortium.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 4202 differs from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways to make technical corrections.