8 6 T H L E G I S L A T I V E S E S S I O N R E C A P HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

July 2019 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP Dear Colleague, Chris Turner, Chair

Lynn Stucky, Vice Chair During the 86th Legislative Session, the House Committee on Higher Education addressed many critical issues, including campus safety, course credit transferability, campus free speech and academic services. The measures considered and passed into law will have long-lasting John T. Smithee impact on Texas college students, and move our state closer to achieving the goals outlined in the Texas Higher Education Terry M. Wilson Coordinating Board's 60X30TX plan.

The following is a compilation of the higher education legislation considered by the Committee and ultimately signed into law. COMMITTEE STAFF Hopefully this information will be of use to you when discussing J ulie D. Young, Director higher education issues in your district. [email protected] 512-463-0782

Chris Turner, Chair House Committee on Higher Education

Transferring College Credits TEXAS HIGHER SB 25: West/C.Turner Requires institutions to create course sequences to help EDUCATION ensure that college credits taken at the junior college level transfer to four-year FAST FACTS universities. The law also requires public institutions to report non-transferring courses. This information, along with the requirement that students file a degree plan or major earlier in their academic career, will help ensure more students FOUR-YEAR graduate on time, with fewer courses that do not count towards their major or INSTITUTIONS degree, and with less student loan debt. Public Institutions HB 3808: Walle/Powell Requires students to file a degree plan at certain points in 37 order for them to be fully informed of which courses will count towards their degree. As signed into law, the bill also provides for a student liaison on campuses 2018 Enrollment and creates the Texas WORKS program, an off-campus paid internship program. 658,219

SB 502: Seliger/Howard Requires institutions to report annually to the Texas Average Tuition & Fees: Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) regarding courses for which transfer $9,251 credit is not accepted. This will help THECB gain information needed in order to help students take fewer courses that will not count towards their degree or major, thereby saving them from additional student loan debt.

SB 1324: Taylor/C. Turner Requires the filing of a degree plan by students at TWO-YEAR public institutions of higher education, so they can receive more information on INSTITUTIONS the courses they need to take in order to complete their degree in a timely fashion. This will reduce overall student loan debt for students in Texas. Public Institutions 82

Campus Safety & Student 2018 Enrollment 758,133 Well-Being HB 449: Turner/Watson Requires a transcript notation for students who are Average Tuition & Fees: ineligible to re-enroll in an institution because of a serious disciplinary code of $2,506 conduct violation, including sexual assault, arson and threats of terrorism.

HB 476: Howard/Menendez Requires public institutions of higher education that implement policies regarding use of epinephrine auto-injectors to have training for personnel and volunteers to learn correct administration of the auto-injectors. It would also require the institution adopting such a policy to include the policy on the institution's student handbook and publish the policy on the institution's website.

HB 1735: Howard/Watson Requires public and private post-secondary educational institutions to adopt a policy on campus sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. Under provisions of the bill, each peace officer employed by a post-secondary educational institution must complete training on trauma-informed investigation into allegations of these offenses. The bill would require each post-secondary educational institution to designate a Title IX Coordinator and to offer counseling.

SB 38: Zaffirini/Lozano Revises the statutory definition of hazing by including acts involving coercing a student to consume an alcoholic beverage, liquor, or drug. It further amends immunity provisions, specifying the venues in which perpetrators may be prosecuted and strengthening certain reporting requirements. These changes will help to ensure that college students are safer on campuses and encourage students to speak up against acts of hazing.

2 C ampus Safety & Student Well-Being, cont'd... SB 212: Huffman/Morrison Establishes reporting requirements for public, private, and independent institutions of higher education for employees who, in the course and scope of employment, witness or receive information concerning sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence or stalking committed by a student

enrolled at the university. It further creates a Class B misdemeanor offense for failure to make a required report, provides for an administrative penalty for an BY 2030: institution that does not comply with the quarterly reporting requirements and provides for certain confidentiality standards for the alleged victim's identity. 60% of Texas' 25-34 year

olds will have a certificate or SB 945/HB 3658: Watson/C. Turner Requires residential advisors and officers of student organizations at public or private institutions of higher education who a degree currently have to undergo training to complete drug or alcohol overdose awareness and response training. This measure will help ensure that these persons 550,000 students will have in crucial roles are able to recognize the signs of overdose in time to alert completed a certificate, emergency medical services and take immediate steps to save a student's life. associate's, bachelor's, or - This measure was amended onto HB 3285. master's degree from an Campus Free Speech institution of higher education in Texas SB 18: Huffman/Geren Establishes that it is state policy to protect the expressive rights of persons guaranteed by the constitutions of the United States and of Texas. The measure recognizes freedom of speech and assembly All graduates from Texas as central to the mission of public institutions of higher education, and public institutions of higher provides parameters for those institutions to use when adopting a policy education will have imposing reasonable restrictions on time, place and manner. completed programs with identified marketable skills Health Related Institutions HB 80: Ortega/Rodriguez Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Undergraduate student loan Board (THECB) to conduct a study, in collaboration with other agencies, to debt will not exceed 60 identify shortages in certain health professions in which doctoral-level training percent of first-year wages is offered. THECB is required to make recommendations for establishment of for graduates of Texas public new programs and expansion of existing programs, in order to address these institutions shortages.

HB 826: Zerwas/Huffman Allows for the creation of the University of Houston College of Medicine at the University of Houston.

HB 1065: Ashby/Kolkhorst Establishes a rural resident physician grant program, which will help address the shortage of physicians in rural communities. It will offer incentives for resident physicians to complete their residency training in a rural area and establishes rural training tracks so that prospective physicians can have adequate caseloads, diversity of cases and residency staffing requirements.

HB 1592: Smithee/West Makes health care liability self-insurance more flexible for certain public university systems so that it will extend to certain health care professionals, so systems can support employees at critical times.

HB 1788: Zaffirini/Raymond Provides the statutory authorization needed to allow UT Health students to use funds already appropriated for travel costs in order to travel to complete supplemental coursework at the Laredo Regional Campus and clinical education in Webb County and the surrounding area. These learning opportunities and the ability to use the proper funds to travel will help students advance their health education.

3 Health Related Institutions, cont'd... Texas University Systems HB 2867: Metcalf/Creighton Codifies the Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. University of Houston System

University of North Texas System HB 2261: Walle/Hinojosa Allows for a physician to receive student loan University of Texas System repayment assistance if they establish such eligibility by committing to a four- year practice commitment in a rural community, urban center, community Texas A&M University System

health center or correctional facility. This will provide incentives for new Texas State University System physicians to start their careers in under-served Texas communities. Texas Tech University System

SB 479: Watson/Longoria Provides for the inclusion of the Dell Medical Independent Public School at the University of Texas at Austin and the School of Medicine at the Universities University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in the joint admission medical program. This measure will assist more qualified economically disadvantaged students Midwestern State University in preparing for and succeeding in medical school. The bill also includes the Stephen F. Austin University Dell Medical School among the institutions eligible for funding from the Texas Southern University permanent health fund for higher education. Texas Woman's University SB 1378: Buckingham/C. Turner Requires new medical schools to submit plans to THECB regarding anticipated first-year residency positions needed Health Related based on the school's anticipated target class size. This measure will allow Institutions

entities to be better informed and more able to create sufficient first-year Texas A&M Health Science Center residency positions to keep Texas students in Texas. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Admissions & Academic Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - El Paso Services The University of Texas at Austin HB 277: Oliverson/Creighton Requires online admission application forms for Dell Medical School public institutions of higher education to include a link to certain comparative gainful employment data. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

HB 539: Leman/Kolkhorst Provides for the student who is the valedictorian of The University of Texas Health their high school graduating class to receive automatic admission to a general Science Center at San Antonio academic teaching institution and to be eligible for certain scholarships. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler HB 766: Huberty/Watson Mandates tuition and fee exemptions for disabled peace officers at public institutions of higher education. The bill would also The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center allow disabled fire fighters to participate in the exemption. Under provisions of the bill, the governing board of an institution of higher education may not The University of Texas Medical provide these exemptions to students enrolled in a specific course in a number Branch at Galveston that exceeds 20 percent of the maximum student enrollment designated by the The University of Texas Rio Grande institution for that course. Valley - Medical School

The University of Texas HB 3601: Bell/Menendez Requires the THECB to recognize competency-based Southwestern Medical Center education degree plans for members of the Texas Military Forces, in order to help increase troop recruitment and retention by the Texas State Guard in The University of North Texas order to meet Governor Abbott's mission to double the authorized forces of the Health Science Center

Guard by 2021. The active military service obligation for an associate degree is changed to two years; four years for a baccalaureate degree and six years for a Texas State Technical graduate degree. Colleges

HB 1702: Howard/Hancock Requires a liaison officer who serves current or Texas State Technical College Fort Bend incoming students who were formerly in foster care to obtain a list from the Harlingen institution they work at of these current and incoming students, in order to Marshall better recognize who they are responsible for serving. The measure provides North Texas for clarifications so that the liaison officer can better serve these students. Waco West Texas 4

A dmissions & Academic Services, cont'd... Texas Junior Colleges & Districts/Systems HB 1891: Stucky/Powell Provides that a student who has achieved a score set by the THECB on a high school equivalency examination is exempt from the Alamo Community College District requirements of the Texas Success Initiative. Alvin Community College Amarillo College HB 277: Oliverson/Creighton - This will req HB 2140: Neave/Powell Creates an electronic application system for state Angelina College financial assistance (TASFA), which would streamline the process for students fAourmstsin f oCro pmumbliucn iintsyt Citoultlieognes of higher educ Blinn College District needing to apply for financial assistance so that it is the same as the current comparative gainful employment data. Th Brazosport College process students use for the FAFSA (federal financial assistance). sCtuednetrnatls T aepxpalsy iCnogl lteog ceollege to be able to s

fCoicsucso o Cno wllehgiceh would lead to full-time em HB 2668: C. Turner/Paxton Transfers funds from a program that has been Clarendon College inactive into a scholarship program that is currently active, to allow Texas HCBo a5s3t9a:l L Beemnadn C/Koolllekgheorst - The measure w students of higher education to be able to access and benefit from these tChoel vleagled oicf ttohreia Mna oinf ala tnhde iCr ohmigmh sucnhitoyo l g r a scholarship funds. aCdomlliesgseio Dni stotr aic gteneral academic teaching Collin County Community College cDeirsttariinc ts cholarships. HB 3655: C. Turner/Buckingham Amends current law relating to the HDBa l7la6s6 :C Houubnetryt yC/oWmamtsoun i-t yT hCeo lbleilgl emakes t administration and operation of the state's programs for paying, prepaying, or District saving toward the costs of attending an institution of higher education, including dDiseal bMleadr Cpoelaleceg eofficers at public institutio the powers and duties of the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board. TEhl eP basilol wCoumldm aulsnoit ay lCloowll edgiseabled fire figh UFnradnekr pPrhoivlliispiso nCso ollfe tghee bill, the governing SB 1017: Powell/Guerra Provides for the creation of an advisory council on Galveston College education may not provide these exemptio postsecondary education for persons with intellectual and developmental Grayson College disabilities. This will help develop relevant outreach materials and provide advice cHoiullr Cseo lilne ag enumber that exceeds 20 percen Houston Community College enrollment designated by the institution fo and recommendations to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which System will be required to update its inventory of appropriate programs and services HHBo w17a0r2d: CHoolwleagred/Hancock (SB 1357) - The more frequently. The goal of this measure is to increase awareness of such wKhilog osreer vCeosl cleugrerent or incoming students w opportunities so that students and parents of students with intellectual and Laredo College obtain a list from the institution they work developmental disabilities in Texas can better benefit from them. Lee College sLtounde nSttsa, ri nC olrldeegre t oS ybsettetmer Dreicsotrgicntize who mMecaLseunrnea pnr oCvoimdems fuonri tcyla Criofilcleagtieons so that Data & Information Midland College these students. HB 3011: C. Turner/Powell increases access to data used to determine school Navarro College district A-F ratings by requiring the THECB to provide a school district certain HNBo r1t8h9 C1:e Sntturackl Ty/ePxoaws eClol l(lSeBg e2130) - The me Northeast Texas Community information used in determining academic accountability ratings for a district. has achieved a score set by the THECB on a College eOxdamesisnaa Ctionlle isg exempt from the requireme SB 1441: Zaffirini/C. Turner Directs the THECB to conduct a study comparing the HPBa n2o1l4a0 C: Noellaevgee/Powell - The bill would cre post-secondary educational outcomes for students who received a traditional Paris Junior College high school diploma with those for students who received a high school fRoar nstgaetre C fionlalengceial assistance (TASFA), whic equivalency certificate, dis-aggregated by the exam completed to obtain that sStaund eJnatcsi nteoe dCionmg mtou anpiptyly C foolrl efigneancial ass certificate. This measure will allow policymakers to have more data available to cSuoruretnht P plaroincse sCso sltleugdeents use for the FAFSA assess the educational outcomes of people with a high school equivalency versus South Texas College HB 1101: Darby/Seliger (SB 828) - The bill r a traditional high school diploma. Southwest Institute for the Deaf nSaomueth owf ethste TSeoxuatsh Jwuensito Cro Clloelgleiagtee Institute Tarrant County College District to 'Southwest College for the Deaf' in orde Open Educational Resources Temple College cToenxnaorktaatnioan C aoslsleogceiated with the word 'inst HB 3650: C. Turner/Creighton Requires the school district and institution of higher STBe x1a6s8 0S:o Wutehsmt/Roosst eC -o Tllheigse measure would a learning where the high school students are in dual enrollment classes to consider Trinity Valley Community College the use of free or low-cost open educational resources in courses offered under the fTeydleerra Jlluyn-qioura Clifoiellde gHeistorically Black Colleg dual enrollment program. Open educational resources are free to students and EVqeurnaloizna Ctiolnle Ggreant Program. Paul Quinn is Victoria College would lower the cost the state and students pay for textbooks, thus reducing this Texas and only the eighth Work College in Weatherford College financial burden. EWqeusatleizrant iToenx aGsr aCnotl lise gaevailable to eligible s wWithha fritnoann Ccioaul nteye Jdu, wnihoor C(aomlloegneg other req HB 3652: C. Turner/Creighton Creates a state repository for open educational non-profit Texas college or university and resources by the THECB to help facilitate access to these materials and to reduce the than they would pay to attend a public ins cost of materials to students. H B 2668: Turner/Paxton - This bill would tr h as been inactive into a scholarship progra T exas students of higher education 5to be a scholarship funds. Financial Aid PAYING FOR COLLEGE

SB 16: Hancock/Stucky Establishes a student loan repayment assistance program for qualifying peace officers over a five-year period. This will help with the STATE LOAN PROGRAMS recruitment and retention of peace officers in Texas. College Access Loan

SB 37: Zaffirini/Krause Prohibits the use of student loan default or breach of a Texas Armed Services student loan repayment or scholarship contract as grounds for refusal to grant or Scholarship Program renew an occupational license or other disciplinary action in relation to an occupational license. STATE GRANTS Texas Educational SB 1192/HB 3042: West/C. Turner Creates the Texas WORKS internship program, a Opportunity Grant Program centralized system for off-campus work study opportunities. This initiative has been (TEOG) funded in the state budget in past years, but centralization of available job opportunities was needed in order for the program to succeed. This measure was Texas Public Educational amended onto HB 3808. Grant Program (TPEG)

HB 4465: C. Turner/Bettencourt Aligns the Hazlewood Student Loan program to Toward EXcellence, Access the current loan program operations (Texas Opportunity Plan Fund; Student Loan and Success Grant Program Auxiliary Fund). It removed constitutional provisions previously repealed to align with existing practices, and updates the statute to reflect these practices. (TEXAS Grant)

SB 1757: Creighton/Frullo Provides greater flexibility in establishing the number of Tuition Equalization Grant years for service as a public school teacher necessary to receive repayment Program (TEG) assistance in the math and science scholars loan repayment program. It would also revise the GPA required, in order to allow more applicants to qualify. This will help FINANCIAL AID address the critical shortage of certified mathematics and science teachers at Texas APPLICATIONS public schools. Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) I nstitution-Specific Laws

HB 1101: Darby/Seliger Removes the word 'institute' from the name of the Southwest Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Collegiate Institute for the Deaf (SWCID) and renames it to 'Southwest College for the Deaf' in order to remove the negative connotation associated with the word 'institute' in sign language. FOR MORE INFORMATION www.collegeforalltexans.com HB 1277: Perez/Miles Authorizes a wellness and success center fee at the University of Houston-Downtown.

HB 1439: Pacheco/Flores Authorizes an intercollegiate athletics fee at Texas A&M University - San Antonio.

HB 1516: Coleman/Miles Authorizes the continued imposition of an intercollegiate athletics fee at Texas Southern University.

HB 2680: Schaefer/Hughes Creates a student recreational facility fee at The University of Texas at Tyler.

HB 2709: Frullo/Perry Authorizes the sale of Texas Tech University property without requiring legislative approval and streamlines this process to match up to the authority of other comparable institutions in Texas.

HB 2718: C. Turner/West Authorizes an increase in the student union fee at The University of Texas at Arlington, subject to approval by the student body and University of Texas Board of Regents.

6 Institution Specific Laws, cont'd... EARNING POTENTIAL HB 2963: Clardy/Nichols Allows the conveyance of certain state forest land in BY DEGREE EARNED Cherokee County under the control of the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M SOURCE: THECB University System.

HB 3124: Wilson/Flores Allows a person or their dependents to pay in-state tuition and fees if they are enrolled in an institution of The Texas A&M University System.

HB 3165: Oliverson/Creighton Allows the Lone Star College System District to offer an occupational and life skills associate degree program.

HB 3312: Morrison/Kolkhorst The bill authorizes a health and wellness center fee at the University of Houston-Victoria.

HB 4182: Sherman/West The measure allows the University of North Texas at Dallas to establish an intercollegiate athletics fee.

SB 1680: West/Rose Allows Paul Quinn College, a federally-qualified Historically Black College, to participate in the Tuition Equalization Grant Program. Paul Quinn is the first urban Work College in Texas and the eighth Work College in the country. The Tuition Equalization Grant is available to eligible students (who are Texas residents) with financial need, who (among other requirements) are enrolled at a private non-profit Texas college or university and are required to pay more tuition than they would pay to attend a public institution. Missed Opportunity: Tuition Revenue Bonds HB 2000 C. Turner/West Would have authorized $3.8 billion in Tuition Revenue Bonds for general academic institutions, health related institutions and Texas State Technical College System institutions. The measure, which would have given institutions the ability to build new facilities and repair existing structures, had broad bi-partisan support with over 70 joint/co-authors and passed the House with a vote of 132-9.

Although supported by the House and the governor, the bill was not considered in the Senate.

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