BILL ANALYSIS
| Senate Research Center | S.B. 2055 |
| | By: West |
| | Education K-16 |
| | 4/14/2025 |
| | As Filed |
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
This bill is necessary to clarify the original legislative intent of H.B. 1590 from the 88th Session, which created the Texas Leadership Scholars Program (TLSP).
Currently, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has adopted administrative rules outside the scope and intent of H.B. 1590 (88R) which arbitrarily exclude certain general academic teaching institutions from participating in TLSP. This bill would specify that all general academic teaching institutions are eligible to participate.
Further, this legislation also stipulates that each general academic teaching institution must get at least one leadership scholar under the program. THECB is also barred from adopting rules that would exclude any institution from participation in TLSP.
Working with THECB, this bill ensures that all general academic teaching institutions may participate in Texas leadership scholars program in accordance with the legislative intent of H.B. 1590 from the 88th Session.
As proposed, S.B. 2055 amends current law relating to participation in the Texas Leadership Scholars Program.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board �is modified in� SECTION 2 (Section 61.897, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 61.891, Education Code, by adding Subdivision (4) to define "eligible institution."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 61.897, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:
(a) Requires that the rules adopted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), in consultation with the general academic teaching institutions, for the administration of the program provide that a student is prohibited from receiving a scholarship under either the leadership or research scholarship program for more than four years per student per program and to provide that each eligible institution receives at least one research scholarship award with remaining research scholarships awarded to eligible institutions based, in part, on the number of research doctoral degrees awarded by each institution. Makes a nonsubstantive change.
(a-1) Prohibits THECB, in adopting rules under Subchapter T-3 (Texas Leadership Scholars Program), from adopting a rule that limits the general academic teaching institutions that may participate in the program or gives preference to students enrolled in certain general academic teaching institutions.
SECTION 3. Requires THECB, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt rules to implement Section 61.897, Education Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
