HBA-MPM H.B. 2770 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2770 By: Rangel Higher Education 3/19/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE According to demographic research, certain statewide minority population percentages are not being reflected in the student population of the state's graduate and professional schools. H.B. 2770 provides that a graduate or professional program of a general academic teaching institution or medical or dental unit must consider factors other than a student's academic record in making an admission or scholarship decision for that program. Furthermore, it prohibits a potential student's performance on a standardized test to be used in the admissions or scholarship process unless it is compared with those scores of other applicants from a similar socioeconomic background, and prohibits the score from being counted as a substantial factor in the admissions or scholarship process. This bill also requires each institution to publish certain information in its catalog regarding admissions and competitive scholarship decisions and to make this information available to the public. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.823, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Subchapter V, as follows: SUBCHAPTER V. ADMISSION AND SCHOLARSHIP POLICIES FOR GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS Sec. 51.821. DEFINITIONS. Defines for the purposes of this subchapter the following terms: "general academic teaching institution," "graduate program," and "professional program." Sec. 51.822. ADMISSION AND SCHOLARSHIP FACTORS FOR GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS. (a) Provides that a graduate or professional program (program) of a general academic teaching institution or medical or dental unit (institution) must consider certain factors other than a student's academic record in making an admission scholarship decision for admissions into or competitive scholarships for the program. (b) Authorizes an applicant's performance on a standardized test to be used in the admissions or competitive scholarship process only to compare the applicant's test score with those of other applicants from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Provides that if an applicant's performance on a standardized test is used for that purpose, it must be considered with other compensatory criteria. Prohibits the student's test score from accounting for more than 25 percent of the weight assigned to factors considered in the admissions or competitive scholarship process. (c) Prohibits an applicant's performance on a standardized test from being considered in the admissions or competitive scholarship process to initially screen, limit, or further cease consideration of the applicant; or in conjunction with other factors to create an index score to initially screen, limit, or further cease consideration of the applicant; or in any other way not authorized by this section. (d) Requires each institution to publish in its catalog a description of the factors to be considered in making admissions and competitive scholarship decisions no later than one year before the date that applications for admissions and scholarships are first considered for a related program under this subchapter. Requires the institution or unit to make the information available to the public. (e) Makes the requirements of Subsection (d) inapplicable to admissions and competitive scholarships for the 2000 fall semester. Requires each institution covered by Subsection (d) to make the required information available to the public and applicants to its programs no later than December 1, 1999, for the fall 2000 semester. Provides that this subsection expires September 1, 2000. Sec. 51.823. RULEMAKING. Authorizes the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to adopt rules relating to the operation of admissions and competitive scholarship processes under this subchapter. SECTION 2. (a) Makes change in law made by this Act applicable beginning with admissions and competitive scholarships for the 2000-2001 academic year. Requires the board and each institution to adopt rules or policies relating to the admission of students and awarding of scholarships under Subchapter V, Chapter 51, Education, as added by this Act, no later than January 1, 2000. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.