BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 678

By: Walle

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to a survey by the Association of American Universities, approximately 26 percent of undergraduate women and six percent of undergraduate men experienced nonconsensual sexual contact by physical force or inability to consent. Furthermore, the bill author has informed the committee of data indicating that rates of sexual victimization are higher for females in college compared to females of similar ages in the general population and that it is during the first year of college that women are at the highest risk for sexual victimization. H.B. 678 seeks to raise student awareness of available resources regarding sexual assault by requiring contact information for the National Sexual Assault Hotline to be printed on student identification cards issued by public institutions of higher education.

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

H.B. 678 amends the Education Code to require each student identification card issued by a public institution of higher education to include the contact information for the National Sexual Assault Hotline. The bill applies only to a student identification card issued on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.