BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 1400
89R25971 KJE-D	By: Kolkhorst
	Education K-16
	5/6/2025
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In the modern landscape of higher education, it is not uncommon for a student to begin at a general academic institution (GAI) before taking classes at a public junior college. However, there has been uncertainty as to whether a student who meets this criteria can qualify under the transferable outcome under performance tier funding.

Following the passage of H.B. 8 in the 88th Regular Session, performance tier funding rewards junior colleges across the state for a student who enrolls in a GAI after earning 15 semester credit hours from a single public junior college district. Since then, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's rule 13.556� established that the student "must be enrolled at the GAI for the first time in the fiscal year for which public junior college eligible for a performance tier allocation." Despite the fiscal year qualification, this rule has created confusion for public junior colleges as to when a student is eligible to be counted as a transfer.

S.B. 1400 seeks to address this issue by clarifying that a student may have up to 30 semester credit hours from a GAI and still count towards the transfer outcome when transferring from a public junior college to a GAI.

(Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

C.S.S.B. 1400 amends current law relating to a study on measurable outcomes for certain transfer students for performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 130A, Education Code, by adding Section 130A.1012, as follows:

Sec. 130A.1012. STUDY ON STUDENT TRANSFERS. (a) Defines "general academic teaching institution."

(b) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), in consultation with the standing advisory committee established under Section 130.001 (Supervision by Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System), to conduct a study to assess the feasibility and the fiscal and policy implications, including the fiscal impact to the state, of revising the requirements for subsequent transfer to a general academic teaching institution for purposes of performance tier funding under Section 130A.101(c)(2)(A) (relating to students who transfer to a general academic teaching institution) to include students who were previously enrolled at a general academic teaching institution.

(c) Requires THECB, in conducting the study, to assess certain types of postsecondary educational experience and attainment that students have before enrolling in a public junior college, the fiscal impact of revising the requirements for subsequent transfer to a general academic teaching institution for purposes of performance tier funding under Section 130A.101(c)(2)(A) to include students who were previously enrolled at a general academic teaching institution, and any other factors or issues THECB or the standing advisory committee established under Section 130.001 determines relevant.

(d) Requires THECB, in consultation with the standing advisory committee established under Section 130.001, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the legislature a report on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action.

(e) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.