HBA-GUM H.B. 3762 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3762 By: Gallego Higher Education 4/16/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Resocialization is the Texas Youth Commission's (TYC) comprehensive treatment approach to rehabilitate troubled juveniles. The program concentrates on correctional therapy, education, work, and discipline training. Currently, the focus of the agency's educational efforts is to guide students toward obtaining either a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma. H.B. 3762 expands the educational incentives for TYC youth by allowing them to earn college credit based on completion of the resocialization 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 Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.309, as follows: Sec. 51.309. COURSE CREDIT FOR TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION RESOCIALIZATION PROGRAM. (a) Requires each institution of higher education to grant a person enrolled in the institution as an undergraduate student course credit for successful completion of a comprehensive resocialization program administered by the Texas Youth Commission (commission), if the program includes a mandatory academic component. Requires the commission, upon written request, to certify to an institution of higher education designated by the person that the person successfully complete the program. (b) Provides that course credit granted under this section must be for at least three credit hours. Entitles the student to count the course credit toward the credit hours required for the student's undergraduate certificate or degree at the institution. Authorizes the institution to grant the course credit as credit for a particular course at the institution or as credit for an elective course that is not equivalent to any course offered by the institution. Provides that the institution is not required to grant the course credit in satisfaction of any particular course required for completion of the student's certificate or degree program. (c) Requires the commission to consult with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board at least once a year to review the academic component of the commission's comprehensive resocialization program. Authorizes the coordinating board to recommend changes in the academic component to assist the commission to ensure that the program assists member children to develop the academic skills and knowledge necessary to perform college-level work. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999 fall semester and applies to an undergraduate student regardless of when the student enrolled in the institution. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.