88R4376 CXP-D
By: Patterson H.B. No. 1509
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an annual report on financial support provided by
public institutions of higher education to nonprofit media
organizations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.980 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.980. ANNUAL REPORT ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT PROVIDED TO
NONPROFIT MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003.
(3) "Nonprofit media organization" means a media
organization that is exempt from federal income tax under Section
501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed as an exempt
organization in Section 501(c)(3) of that code.
(b) Not later than September 1 of each year, an institution
of higher education shall submit to the coordinating board a report
on financial support, including through the purchase of a
membership, sponsorship, or advertising services, that the
institution provided to a nonprofit media organization during the
preceding state fiscal year.
(c) A report submitted under Subsection (b) must include a
list of all nonprofit media organizations that received financial
support from the institution of higher education and the amount of
financial support provided to each organization.
(d) Not later than January 1 of each year, the coordinating
board shall submit to the legislature a report on financial support
provided to nonprofit media organizations by institutions of higher
education during the preceding state fiscal year. The report must
include a copy of each report submitted to the coordinating board
under Subsection (b) for the preceding state fiscal year.
(e) The coordinating board may adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than September 1, 2023, each
public institution of higher education shall submit its initial
report required under Section 51.980(b), Education Code, as added
by this Act.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2024, the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board shall submit its initial report
required under Section 51.980(d), Education Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2023.