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.