By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1730
(In the Senate - Filed March 11, 2011; March 23, 2011, read
first time and referred to Committee on Higher Education;
April 19, 2011, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 19, 2011,
sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1730 By: Zaffirini
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
to create a tool to allow prospective students to compare general
academic teaching institutions by certain criteria.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.09021 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.09021. COMPARISON TOOL. (a) The board shall make
available to the public on the board's Internet website a search
tool that allows a person to compare general academic teaching
institutions that meet certain criteria selected by the person,
including offering a particular major or program of study.
(b) The comparison tool required under this section must:
(1) be accessible from the board's Internet website;
(2) allow a user to identify general academic teaching
institutions according to selection criteria as determined by the
board; and
(3) be accessible to the public without requiring
registration or use of a user name, password, or other user
identification.
(c) The comparison tool required under this section must
generate a comparison chart in a grid format that:
(1) lists the general academic teaching institutions
that match a user's search criteria; and
(2) provides information for each institution listed
that the board has determined would aid a prospective student in
evaluating the institution.
(d) The Internet page displaying the comparison chart must
include a link to the Internet website of the Texas Workforce
Commission.
(e) To the extent practicable, the information provided
under Subsection (c) must consist of information that a general
academic teaching institution is required to report to the board
under another provision of law, including board rule.
(f) Each general academic teaching institution shall
provide to the board the information to be provided under
Subsection (c) not later than October 1, or a date determined by the
board, of each year. The board shall update the comparison tool as
soon as practicable after receiving information from each
institution.
SECTION 2. Not later than February 1, 2013, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall create and post on the board's
Internet website the comparison tool required by Section 61.09021,
Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
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