H.B. No. 1361
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the designation of liaison officers to assist certain
  students at public institutions of higher education who are
  parents.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.9357 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.9357.  DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST
  CERTAIN STUDENTS WHO ARE PARENTS; REPORT. (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
  Education Coordinating Board.
               (2)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003.
         (b)  Each institution of higher education shall designate at
  least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer
  for current or incoming students at the institution who are the
  parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 years of age.  The
  liaison officer shall provide to the students information regarding
  support services and other resources available to the students at
  the institution, including:
               (1)  resources to access:
                     (A)  medical and behavioral health coverage and
  services; and
                     (B)  public benefit programs, including programs
  related to food security, affordable housing, and housing
  subsidies;
               (2)  parenting and child care resources;
               (3)  employment assistance;
               (4)  transportation assistance;
               (5)  student academic success strategies; and
               (6)  any other resources developed by the institution
  to assist the students.
         (c)  Not later than May 1 of each academic year, an
  institution of higher education shall submit to the coordinating
  board a report that contains the following information regarding
  students enrolled at the institution for the current academic year
  who are the parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 years of
  age:
               (1)  the number of those students;
               (2)  demographic data, including age, race, sex, and
  ethnicity;
               (3)  academic data, including full-time or part-time
  enrollment status and graduation, transfer, and withdrawal rates;
  and
               (4)  other data as prescribed by coordinating board
  rule.
         (d)  The coordinating board shall adopt rules to administer
  this section, including rules to ensure compliance with federal law
  regarding confidentiality of student medical or educational
  information, including the Health Insurance Portability and
  Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.), the
  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.
  Section 1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student
  information.
         SECTION 2.  (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt rules to implement Section 51.9357, Education Code, as
  added by this Act.
         (b)  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 academic
  year.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1361 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 121, Nays 23, 3 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1361 on May 26, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 116, Nays 25,
  1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1361 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 24, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays
  3.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor