Higher Education Research
Security Council

Overview

House Bill (HB) 127, passed during the 89th legislative session, established the Higher Education Research Security Council (HERSC) to promote secure academic research at postsecondary institutions while mitigating the risk of foreign espionage and interference. 

The council’s primary roles: 

• Establish best practices for use by R1 institutions of higher education. 
• Create standards and procedures for annual certification of compliance with HB 127. 

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) responsibilities: 

• Provide administrative support to the council at its request. 
• In consultation with HERSC:  
  • Establish rules regarding the value of de minimis gifts from a foreign source. (Proposed Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter W, Section 4.356, Gifts of De Minimis Value)  
  • Conduct a review of the use of testing, tutoring, or other education software owned or controlled by a foreign adversary or a company domiciled or headquartered in a foreign adversary’s country; and publish a list of prohibited software. 
• Collect and report foreign gift and contract disclosures that institutions are required to submit to the U.S. Department of Education under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965; institutions shall submit that same reporting to the THECB at the time they submit it to the Department of Education. 
• Collect HERSC certification forms. 

See below to learn more about best practices, prohibited software, or certification requirements/deadlines.