HBA-MPM S.B. 1356 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1356 By: Barrientos Higher Education 5/13/1999 Engrossed 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. S.B. 1356 requires a general academic teaching institution or medical or dental unit to consider any, all, or a combination of specified factors, in addition to any institutional, unit, professional, or accreditation factors when making an admissions or scholarship decision for admissions into or competitive scholarships for a graduate or professional program. Furthermore, it prohibits a potential student's performance on a standardized test to be used as the sole criterion for considering the applicant. This bill also requires each institution to publish certain information 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," "medical and dental unit," "graduate program," and "professional program." Sec. 51.822. ADMISSION AND SCHOLARSHIP FACTORS FOR GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS. (a) Requires a general academic teaching institution or medical or dental unit (institution) to consider any, all, or a combination of factors specified in this subsection, in addition to any institutional, unit, professional, or accreditation factors when making an admissions or scholarship decision for admissions into or competitive scholarships for a graduate or professional program(program). (b) Prohibits an applicant's performance on a standardized test from being used in the admissions or competitive scholarship process as the sole criterion for consideration of the applicant. (c) Requires each institution to publish 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. (d) Makes the requirements of Subsection (c) inapplicable to admissions and competitive scholarships for the 2000 fall semester. Requires each institution or unit covered by Subsection (c) 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. Sec. 51.824. REPORT. Requires each institution to report annually to the board the demographic composition of the entering class of students admitted and enrolled under this subchapter, according to race, ethnicity, and gender. 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.