SRC-JRN H.B. 588 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 588 By: Rangel (Barrientos) Education 4-28-97 Engrossed DIGEST By the year 2000, the population of Texas is projected to increase by 1,395,000 persons, an increase greater than any other state in the country. These projections have created a concern about how the state will accommodate this growth. This bill provides certain measures for targeting students across the state, in order to provide access to higher education. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 588 provides certain measures for targeting students across the state, in order to provide access to higher education. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.807, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Subchapter S, as follows: SUBCHAPTER S. UNIFORM ADMISSION POLICY Sec. 51.801. DEFINITIONS. Defines "general academic teaching institution," "governing board," "medical and dental unit," and "university system." Sec. 51.802. UNIFORM ADMISSION SYSTEM. Requires a general academic teaching institution (institution) to admit first-time freshman students for each semester under the provisions of this subchapter. Sec. 51.803. AUTOMATIC ADMISSION: ALL INSTITUTIONS. Requires each institution to admit an applicant for admission to the institution as an undergraduate student if the applicant meets certain requirements. Requires an applicant to submit an application before the expiration of any application filing deadline established by the institution, to qualify for admission under this section. Sets forth the requirements an institution is to consider after admission of an applicant under this section. Sec. 51.804. ADDITIONAL AUTOMATIC ADMISSIONS: SELECTED INSTITUTIONS. Requires the governing board of each institution to determine whether to adopt an admissions policy regarding the manner in which first-time freshman student applicants are to be admitted to the institution, if the applicant meets certain requirements. Sec. 51.805. OTHER ADMISSIONS. Authorizes a graduate student who does not qualify for admission under Section 51.803 or 51.804 to apply to any institution. Requires the institution to admit other applicants for admission as undergraduate students, after admitting students under Sections 51.803 and 51.804. Sets forth the intent of the legislature and requires each institution to use certain criteria in admitting first-time freshman to meet changing demographic trends. Authorizes an institution to review other factors in making an admissions decision. Sets forth the requirement for each institution to publish and make available to the public factors considered for admission in its catalog, by a certain date. Provides that this section does not apply to an institution that has an open enrollment policy. Sec. 51.806. REPORT TO COORDINATING BOARD. Requires each instituion to report annually to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) describing the composition of the entering class of students admitted under this subchapter. Sets forth the requirements of the report. Sec. 51.807. RULEMAKING. Authorizes the board to adopt certain rules relating to the operation of admissions programs. Sec. 51.808. APPLICATION OF ADMISSION CRITERIA TO OTHER PROGRAMS. Requires each institution or medical and dental unit that offers admissions to undergraduate transfer students to a graduate, postgraduate, or professional program to adopt a written admission policy. Requires the policy to be published in the institution's or unit's catalog and made available to the public. Sec. 51.809. SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP AWARDS. Requires an institution or a medical and dental unit offering competitive scholarship or fellowship awards to adopt a written policy describing the factors to be used in awarding the scholarship or fellowship. Requires policies adopted under this section to be published in the institution's or unit's catalog and to be made available to the public in advance of any deadline for the submission of an application for a competitive scholarship or fellowship. SECTION 2. (a) Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies beginning with admissions and scholarships for the fall term or semester in 1998. (b) Requires certain entities to adopt rules or policies relating to the admission of students under Chapter 51S, Education Code, as added by this Act, by January 1, 1998. SECTION 3. Emergency clause Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.