The bill relates to student access to certain academic records and would authorize postsecondary educational institutions to charge a fee. The bill would require institutions to release a transcript to students that had not fulfilled their financial obligations to the institution if they were not enrolled in the last five years and the student included the posting for a job or a statement they intend to enroll in another postsecondary educational institution. The transcript must be released directly to the employer or postsecondary educational institution. The institution can charge a reasonable fee for release of a transcript but the fee can not be adjusted based on the student's financial obligation.

Designated tuition and fees within Subchapter E of the Texas Education Code, Chapter 54, except for laboratory fees, student teaching fees, and special course fees, are classified as institutional funds; therefore, there would be no impact to the State. Laboratory fees, student teaching fees, and special course fees under Subchapter E of the Texas Education Code, Chapter 54, are accounted for as educational and general income, or statutory tuition, in the General Appropriations Act. It is assumed that the provisions of the bill would not have a significant effect on this income.

Based on information provided by The University of Texas System and University of Houston System, the bill could result in a loss in designated tuition revenue at several of their component institutons, which could reach a significant amount.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 19, 2021

TO:	Honorable Jim Murphy, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB237 by Bernal (Relating to student access to certain academic records; authorizing a fee.), As Introduced