88R6998 JTZ-D

By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 2637

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study on certain declines in minority participation at public institutions of higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.0811 to read as follows:

Sec. 61.0811. STUDY AND REPORT ON CERTAIN DECLINES IN MINORITY PARTICIPATION. (a) If the board collects data under Section 61.080 indicating that an institution of higher education has experienced a decline in applications, admissions, or retention by members of a particular racial or ethnic minority group for each of the three preceding academic years, the board shall conduct a study to determine the reasons for the decline at the institution.

(b) The study must include a review of:

(1) the institution of higher education's recruitment and outreach programs for members of the racial or ethnic minority group; and

(2) any financial, academic, or other obstacles to enrollment or attendance at the institution faced by prospective or current students who are members of the racial or ethnic minority group.

(c) Not later than September 1 of each year, the board shall submit:

(1) to the legislature a report on the results of each study conducted under this section during the preceding year that includes any recommendations for legislative or other action to increase participation in public higher education by members of the racial or ethnic minority groups considered by those studies; and

(2) to the governing board of each institution of higher education for which the board conducted a study under this section during the preceding year a report on the results of the study that includes any recommendations for changes to institution policies or procedures or for other action to increase participation by members of the racial or ethnic minority group at the institution.

(d) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. Section 61.0811, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with data collected on minority participation in public higher education for 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.