H.B. No. 1702
AN ACT
relating to services provided for students at public institutions
of higher education who are or were in foster care.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 51.9356, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 51.9356. DESIGNATION OF LIAISON OFFICER TO ASSIST
STUDENTS WHO ARE OR WERE [FORMERLY] IN FOSTER CARE.
SECTION 2. Section 51.9356, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), and
(f) to read as follows:
(b) Each institution of higher education shall designate at
least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer
for current and incoming students at the institution who are or were
formerly in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and
Protective Services. To the extent allowed by state or federal law,
the institution shall identify those students from information
provided to the institution in admission or financial aid
applications or other available resources.
(c) Each semester or other academic term, an institution of
higher education shall provide to the institution's liaison officer
the names of and information regarding the students described by
Subsection (b).
(d) The liaison officer shall provide to the [those]
students described by Subsection (b) information regarding support
services and other resources available to the students at the
institution and any other relevant information to assist the
students.
(e) The liaison officer may participate in any training that
enables the officer to carry out the officer's duties and
coordinate with liaison officers at other educational
institutions.
(f) Each institution of higher education shall publicize,
including through the institution's Internet website, social
media, electronic mail, or other means of communication used by the
institution:
(1) the name of and contact information for the
institution's liaison officer; and
(2) information regarding support services and other
resources available at the institution to the students described by
Subsection (b).
SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2020, each public
institution of higher education shall publicize the information
required by Section 51.9356(f), Education Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1702 was passed by the House on April
16, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 127, Nays 6, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1702 was passed by the Senate on May
15, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor