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.