BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 427

By: Kolkhorst

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, higher education students are required to obtain at least six semester credit hours or the equivalent in American History. Students are entitled to use three semester hours in Texas History to satisfy part of this requirement. If a college or university does not offer Texas History, its students may have no ability to use those course credits to satisfy part of the American History course credit requirement. To ensure all students have access to a Texas History course, S.B. 427 requires any college or university receiving state support or state aid from public funds to provide access to a Texas History course. If the college or university does not offer at least three semester credit hours or the equivalent in Texas History to their undergraduate students, they are required to enter into an agreement with another institution to provide their students access to such a Texas History course.

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. 427 amends the Education Code to require a college or university receiving state support or state aid from public funds that does not offer at least three semester credit hours or the equivalent in Texas History to undergraduate students to enter into an agreement with another postsecondary educational institution to offer to the college or university's undergraduate students at least three credit hours or the equivalent in Texas History. The bill applies beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.