HBA-BSM S.B. 924 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 924
By: Barrientos
Higher Education
4/22/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 76th Legislature passed legislation requiring the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (board) to develop and annually update a
uniform strategy to identify, attract, enroll, and retain students that
reflect the population of this state.  In doing so, the legislature
recognized the need to address the existing disparity between the racial
composition of the state's general population and that of the undergraduate
student bodies at the state's institutions of higher education.  Aiding
institutions of higher education in creating and maintaining diverse
faculties and staff may help address this need.  Senate Bill 924 requires
the board to develop and annually update a uniform strategy to enable
institutions of higher education to identify, attract, hire, and retain
faculty and staff that reflect the population of this state.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 924 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (board) to not later than January 1, 2002
develop and annually update a uniform strategy to enable institutions of
higher education to identify, attract, hire, and retain faculty and staff
who reflect the population of Texas.  The bill requires each institution of
higher education to implement the uniform strategy and report annually to
the board the manner in which the institution has implemented the uniform
strategy. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.