Bill

HB 449

86(R) - 2019
House Higher Education
Senate Higher Education
House Higher Education
Senate Higher Education

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Negative

Author(s)

Chris Turner
Sarah Davis
Victoria Neave

Co-Author(s)

Erin Zwiener

Sponsor(s)

Kirk Watson

Bill Caption

Relating to a requirement that a public or private institution of higher education include a disciplinary notation on a student's transcript under certain circumstances.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

HB 449 would require public and private institutions of higher education to make a notation on the transcripts of students who were unable to reenroll in the institution for reasons other than financial or academic. The notation could be removed at the request of the student if the suspension had been fulfilled or a good cause exists to remove it. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action recommends opposing HB 449 because it violates our principles of limited government and individual liberty. It is not the place of the state government to dictate transcript policies to private institutions. Additionally, it is bad policy for colleges or universities to brand their students based on disciplinary actions against them, especially given how universities all have different codes of conduct. Furthermore, it is well known that Title IX disciplinary proceedings lack basic due process protections for the accused and sometimes practically resemble Soviet-era show trials. The results of such proceedings should not be reflected in a student's transcript. A transcript should be solely and entirely about a student's achievement relative to assigned course work.