BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 429
88R493 JRJ-D	By: Middleton
	Subcommittee on Higher Education
	4/18/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current law, a junior college can offer baccalaureate degrees only if its district has a taxable property valuation of $6 billion or more in the preceding year. This prohibits many junior colleges from offering baccalaureate degrees, especially those in rural areas.

S.B. 429 removes the requirement for property valuation in order for junior colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees.� Increasing the number of junior colleges that can offer baccalaureate degrees will allow more Texans to receive quality education at the cost and locations that are most convenient to them. This will directly aid in Texas's 60x30 initiative.

As proposed, S.B. 429 amends current law relating to the requirements for a public junior college to receive approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer a baccalaureate degree program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 130.307(b), Education Code, as follows:

(b) Deletes existing text requiring that a public junior college offering a baccalaureate degree program under Subchapter L (Baccalaureate Degree Programs) have had a taxable property valuation amount of not less than $6 billion in the preceding year, among other requirements. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 130.307(b-1) (relating to authorizing a public junior college to offer a baccalaureate degree program in nursing only if its junior college district meets certain requirements), Education Code.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.