HBA-DMD, MAJ H.B. 420 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 420
By: West, George
Higher Education
2/10/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, students graduating from high school in Texas are required to
take the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS).  Before or shortly
after entering college the student is required to take the Texas Academic
Skills Program (TASP) to ascertain whether the student has certain skills
necessary for college.  The state spends additional money on organizational
costs in administering the TASP and on classes designed to help students
attain certain proficiency levels.  H.B. 420 removes the TASP requirement
for non-degree-seeking students.  

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 Sections 51.306 (o) - (w), Education Code, as  follows:  

(o)  Provides that Section 51.306 (Texas Academic Skills Program) does not
apply to a student who is not enrolled in a certificate or degree program
at an institution of higher education rather than to a student who is a
citizen of a country other than the United States and is seeking a degree.
Deletes existing Subsection (o) relating to the exemption requirements of
the Texas Academic Skills Program.  Text is redesignated from existing
Subsection (r).   

(p)  Redesignated from existing Subsection (s).  Deletes existing
Subsection (p) relating to the required evidence of enrollment in another
institution needed for an exemption. 

(q)  Redesignated from existing Subsection (u).  Deletes existing text
relating to the termination of exemption status. 

(r)  Redesignated from existing Subsection (v).  

(s)  Redesignated from existing Subsection (w).  Deletes Subsection (t)
relating to the testing requirement exemption for students age 55 and older
who are non-degree or non-certificate seeking students. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 51.3061(g), Education Code, by including
students who are enrolled at an institution of higher education and
students who are not enrolled in a certificate or degree program at an
institution of higher education in the list of students exempt from Section
51.3061, Education Code (Testing and Remedial Coursework for Deaf
Students). 

SECTION 3.  Makes the change in law under this Act effective with the 1999
fall semester. 

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.
                       Effective date: upon passage.