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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the designation of liaison officers to assist certain |
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students at public institutions of higher education who are |
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parents. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9357 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9357. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST |
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CERTAIN STUDENTS WHO ARE PARENTS; REPORT. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher |
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Education Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) Each institution of higher education shall designate at |
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least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer |
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for current or incoming students at the institution who are the |
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parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 years of age. The |
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liaison officer shall provide to the students information regarding |
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support services and other resources available to the students at |
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the institution, including: |
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(1) resources to access: |
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(A) medical and behavioral health coverage and |
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services; and |
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(B) public benefit programs, including programs |
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related to food security, affordable housing, and housing |
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subsidies; |
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(2) parenting and child care resources; |
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(3) employment assistance; |
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(4) transportation assistance; |
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(5) student academic success strategies; and |
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(6) any other resources developed by the institution |
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to assist the students. |
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(c) Not later than May 1 of each academic year, an |
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institution of higher education shall submit to the coordinating |
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board a report that contains the following information regarding |
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students enrolled at the institution for the current academic year |
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who are the parent or guardian of a child younger than 18 years of |
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age: |
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(1) the number of those students; |
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(2) demographic data, including age, race, sex, and |
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ethnicity; |
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(3) academic data, including full-time or part-time |
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enrollment status and graduation, transfer, and withdrawal rates; |
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and |
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(4) other data as prescribed by coordinating board |
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rule. |
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(d) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to administer |
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this section, including rules to ensure compliance with federal law |
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regarding confidentiality of student medical or educational |
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information, including the Health Insurance Portability and |
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Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.), the |
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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. |
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Section 1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student |
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information. |
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SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board |
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shall adopt rules to implement Section 51.9357, Education Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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(b) This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 academic |
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year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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