BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 646

By: Nichols

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Lamar State College-Orange (LSCO) enrolls students who live in the surrounding area, including some students from Louisiana. LSCO receives formula funding for all students who take classes in person, regardless of where they live. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, LSCO has expanded its online options for students and many students are enrolled in both in-person and online classes. However, if a student's physical address is outside of Texas, the institution does not receive formula funding for online classes taken by that student. S.B. 646 seeks to remedy this situation and allow LSCO to receive formula funding for those students who live in Calcasieu Parish or Cameron Parish in Louisiana and take classes online through LSCO.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 646 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in the formula applicable to Lamar State College-Orange for funding instruction and administration, to include any contact hours taught through distance education to students enrolled at that college who reside in a county or parish in another state that is contiguous to the county in which the college is located and who pay in-state tuition as authorized by state law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.