BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4361

By: Ward Johnson

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that constituents and students who attend institutions of higher education in Texas are concerned about the processes surrounding emergency notifications on college campuses, specifically regarding the time between when an incident occurs and when students are notified. The bill author has also informed the committee that the federal Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act provides the framework for which situations require a timely warning or an emergency notification but does not provide a timeline in which to issue the warning or notification to students and other parties. H.B. 4361 seeks to address this issue by requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules for public institutions of higher education regarding standardized procedures for timely issuing emergency notifications in accordance with that act.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4361 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with administrators, faculty, staff, and students at public institutions of higher education, to adopt rules as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date regarding standardized procedures for timely issuing emergency notifications in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, including emergency alerts through the institution's emergency alert system.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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