88R6998 JTZ-D
By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 2637
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on certain declines in minority participation
at public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 61.0811 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0811. STUDY AND REPORT ON CERTAIN DECLINES IN
MINORITY PARTICIPATION. (a) If the board collects data under
Section 61.080 indicating that an institution of higher education
has experienced a decline in applications, admissions, or retention
by members of a particular racial or ethnic minority group for each
of the three preceding academic years, the board shall conduct a
study to determine the reasons for the decline at the institution.
(b) The study must include a review of:
(1) the institution of higher education's recruitment
and outreach programs for members of the racial or ethnic minority
group; and
(2) any financial, academic, or other obstacles to
enrollment or attendance at the institution faced by prospective or
current students who are members of the racial or ethnic minority
group.
(c) Not later than September 1 of each year, the board shall
submit:
(1) to the legislature a report on the results of each
study conducted under this section during the preceding year that
includes any recommendations for legislative or other action to
increase participation in public higher education by members of the
racial or ethnic minority groups considered by those studies; and
(2) to the governing board of each institution of
higher education for which the board conducted a study under this
section during the preceding year a report on the results of the
study that includes any recommendations for changes to institution
policies or procedures or for other action to increase
participation by members of the racial or ethnic minority group at
the institution.
(d) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section.
SECTION 2. Section 61.0811, Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies beginning with data collected on minority
participation in public higher education for the 2023-2024 academic
year.
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.