HBA-MPM H.B. 2016 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2016
By: Cuellar
Higher Education
3/10/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Many Texas school students get a head start on college by enrolling in
college courses for credit while still in high school.  Because they are
still in high school at that time, they are ineligible for federal
financial assistance to help defray the costs of the college courses.
Also, before a student may take college courses, they must pass the Texas
Academic Skills Program Test.  A fee must be paid to take the TASP Test.
While fee waivers are available for certain other standardized tests, a
waiver is not available for the TASP Test. 

H.B. 2016 requires the state to bear the cost of administering the TASP
Test to high school students enrolled in the free or reduced price lunch
program or who otherwise show financial need.  This bill also requires a
junior college to waive the tuition fee for a student enrolled in a course
for which the student will receive joint credit and who, in high school, is
enrolled in the national free or reduced price lunch program. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 51.306(w), Education Code, to require the cost
of administering the Texas Academic Skills Program Test  (test) to an
eligible high school student enrolled in the national free or reduced price
lunch program established under 42 U.S.C., Section 1751 et seq., or who is
otherwise shown to be financially needy under criteria established by the
Texas Higher Education Board (board) to be borne by the state through
appropriation to the board for that purpose or other sources of funds.
Requires an eligible high school student who is not shown to be financially
needy to pay for the cost of taking the test unless funds are appropriated
to pay for that cost, rather than for that purpose.  Makes conforming
changes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 130.008(b), Education Code, to require a junior
college to waive the tuition fee for a student enrolled in a course for
which the student is authorized to receive joint credit under this section
and who, in high school, is enrolled in the national free or reduced price
lunch program established under 42 U.S.C., Section 1751 et seq. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.