HBA-LCA H.B. 2097 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2097
By: Uresti
Public Education
4/19/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas law does not require high-school students to apply to public
institutions of higher education as a condition for graduation.   In an
effort to increase the number of students who apply to college, H.B. 2097
requires high-school students to apply to an institution of higher
education, and provides for a waiver of application fees for certain
students. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the State Board of Education in SECTION
1 (Section 28.025, Education Code) and the Texas Higher Education Board in
SECTION 2 (Section 61.085, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 28.025, Education Code, by adding Subsection
(d), as follows: 

(d)  Requires that the State Board of Education (board) by rule require a
student to apply to at least one institute of higher education, as defined
in Section 61.003 (Definitions), Education Code, before graduation and
receipt of a diploma or certificate of coursework completion. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding
Section 61.085, as follows: 

Section 61.085.  WAIVER OF CERTAIN APPLICATION FEE.  (a)  Requires the
board to adopt rules that allow each student to apply to one institution of
higher education without paying an application fee, to allow the student to
comply with Section 28.025(d). 

(b)  Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board), in
cooperation with the commissioner of education and each institution of
higher learning, to adopt a uniform method of reporting applications for
admission that would allow for the determination of whether a student has
complied with Section 28.025(d). 

SECTION 3. (a)  Requires the State Board of Education and the Texas Higher
Education                                     Coordinating Board to adopt
the required rules by January 1, 2000.  

(b) Provides that the requirements of Section 28.025(d), Education Code, as
added by this Act, apply only to a student who receives a high school
diploma or certificate of coursework completion after the 2000 spring
semester. 

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.