88R23126 KJE-D     By: Paul, Tepper H.B. No. 2920     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2920:     By:  Kuempel C.S.H.B. No. 2920       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the distribution or posting of, and the development by   the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board of electronic tools   or platforms to provide, information regarding postsecondary   education and career opportunities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 7.040(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The agency shall prepare information comparing   institutions of higher education in this state and post the   information on the agency's Internet website. Information prepared   under this section shall be given to any [a] public or private   school student who requests the information. The information   shall:                (1)  identify postsecondary education and career   opportunities, including information that states the benefits of   four-year and two-year higher education programs, postsecondary   technical education, skilled workforce careers, and career   education programs;                (2)  assist prospective postsecondary students in   assessing the value of a certificate program, associate or   baccalaureate degree program, or other credential program offered   by an institution of higher education by comparing [compare] each   institution [of higher education] with other institutions using   information included in the electronic tools or platforms developed   by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Section   61.09022(a) [regarding:                      [(A)  the relative cost of tuition;                      [(B)  the retention rate of students;                      [(C)  the graduation rate of students;                      [(D)  the average student debt;                      [(E)  the loan repayment rate of students; and                      [(F)  the employment rate of students];                (3)  identify the state's future workforce needs, as   projected by the Texas Workforce Commission; and                (4)  include annual wage information for the top 10   highest demand jobs in this state, as identified by the Texas   Workforce Commission.          SECTION 2.  Section 51.762(b-1), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b-1)  An electronic common admission application form   adopted under this section must include a prominent link to the   electronic tools or platforms developed by the board under Section   61.09022 [comparative gainful employment data regarding   institutions of higher education, including information described   by Section 7.040, on a website maintained by the board using data   compiled by the board in coordination with the Texas Workforce   Commission].          SECTION 3.  Section 51.763(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The form must:                (1)  allow each applicant to:                      (A)  apply electronically to one or more of the   general academic teaching institutions within the university   system; and                      (B)  indicate preferences for admission between   those institutions; and                (2)  include a prominent link to the electronic tools   or platforms developed by the board under Section 61.09022   [comparative gainful employment data regarding institutions of   higher education, including information described by Section   7.040, on a website maintained by the board using data compiled by   the board in coordination with the Texas Workforce Commission].          SECTION 4.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 61.09022 to read as follows:          Sec. 61.09022.  INFORMATION TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN ASSESSING   VALUE OF POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIALS. (a) From money appropriated or   otherwise available for the purpose, the board shall develop one or   more electronic tools or platforms to provide information to assist   prospective postsecondary students in assessing the value of a   certificate program, associate or baccalaureate degree program, or   other credential program offered by an institution of higher   education or private or independent institution of higher education   by comparing each institution with other institutions regarding:                (1)  the relative cost of obtaining the certificate,   degree, or other credential, based on the most recent data released   through the United States Department of Education's College   Scorecard online tool or a successor tool, including:                      (A)  the total cost of attendance, including:                            (i)  the total cost of tuition and fees; and                            (ii)  the median cost of room and board; and                      (B)  the estimated net cost remaining after   subtracting from the amount described by Paragraph (A) the average   amount of student financial aid granted to the typical student for   the program;                (2)  the value of the certificate, degree, or other   credential as measured by comparing:                      (A)  the median wage earned by students who   graduated with the certificate, degree, or other credential from   the institution; and                      (B)  the median student debt of students who   graduated with the certificate, degree, or other credential from   the institution as compared to the median student debt of all   students who graduated with the certificate, degree, or other   credential, based on the most recent data released through the   United States Department of Education's College Scorecard online   tool or a successor tool;                (3)  the average student debt-to-income ratio of   students who graduated with the certificate, degree, or other   credential from the institution and have student debt, including   the estimated monthly student loan payment, computed using the   standard 10-year repayment plan;                (4)  the percentage of students who fully repay student   debt within the standard 10-year repayment period or, if this   information is not available for the program, the percentage of   students in all certificate programs, degree programs, or other   credential programs who fully repay student debt within the   standard 10-year repayment period; and                (5)  educational outcomes for students seeking the   certificate, degree, or other credential, including:                      (A)  for a program designed to be completed in   more than one year, the percentage of students who continue in the   program after the first year of study;                      (B)  the graduation rate;                      (C)  the percentage of students who withdraw or   transfer from the institution and subsequently graduate with the   certificate, degree, or other credential from another institution   of higher education or private or independent institution of higher   education;                      (D)  the percentage of students who withdraw from   the institution and do not enroll in the program at another   institution of higher education or private or independent   institution of higher education within three years of the   withdrawal; and                      (E)  the percentage of graduates employed in a   field related to the certificate program, degree program, or other   credential program within one year of graduation.          (c)  The board may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and   donations from any public or private source to implement this   section.          (d)  The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement   this section, including rules to ensure compliance with federal and   state law regarding the confidentiality of student information.          SECTION 5.  Section 7.040(c), Education Code, is transferred   to Section 61.09022, Education Code, as added by this Act,   redesignated as Section 61.09022(b), Education Code, and amended to   read as follows:          (b) [(c)]  Each institution of higher education shall   include on its Internet website, in a prominent location that is not   more than three hyperlinks from the website's home page, a link to   the electronic tools or platforms developed by the board   [information posted on the agency's Internet website] under   Subsection (a).          SECTION 6.  Section 2308A.007, Government Code, is amended   by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:          (a-1)  A credential library established under this section   must include the information included in the electronic tools or   platforms developed by the coordinating board under Section   61.09022(a), Education Code.          SECTION 7.  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.