Texas House Bill HB1160

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to certain data reported to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by institutions of higher education for the purpose of compliance monitoring.

Impact

The bill signifies a potential shift in how higher education institutions approach enrollment reporting, ensuring that veteran and military dependent students are specifically acknowledged in data compilations. By requiring additional data points, the bill emphasizes the importance of understanding the demographics and needs of these students. The amendments to Section 61.035 of the Education Code will apply to enrollment data collected starting from the 2015-2016 academic year, enforcing compliance in data reporting that reflects the military affiliation of enrolled students.

Summary

House Bill 1160 aims to enhance the data reporting requirements for institutions of higher education to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The bill specifically mandates that these institutions must identify students who are veterans or military dependents, as well as disclose the types of military higher education benefits these students are eligible to receive, are currently receiving, or have exhausted. This initiative represents a recognition of the unique needs of military-affiliated students within higher education systems.

Contention

While the bill does not appear to have substantial points of contention based on the available discussions, its implementation may spur dialogue regarding the privacy of student data and how it is used. Critics could argue that such data requirements might lead to excessive bureaucracy or concerns about adequately protecting sensitive information. Overall, transitional adjustments to data handling practices might be necessary for institutions to comply with the new requirements without unnecessarily infringing on the rights of students.