HBA-LJP, MPM H.B. 125 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 125
By: West, George "Buddy"
Higher Education
2/2/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a student who is admitted to a public institution of
higher education must take the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) test if
the student performs below standard on either the exit-level exams, or the
American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) college
entrance exams. Similarly, a student who is deaf and admitted to a public
institution of higher education is required to take the Stanford
Achievement Test. However, a student is already required to go through an
individual school's admission process and take other exams to measure
similar skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. These exams also allow
for evaluation and the appropriate placement of a student in a
developmental program. Therefore, the TASP test and the Stanford
Achievement Test become an additional requirement for a student enrolled in
a public institution of higher education. House Bill 125 repeals the
requirements for a Texas college student to take the TASP test and for a
college student who is deaf to take the Stanford Achievement Test. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 125 amends the Education Code to repeal law providing that an
undergraduate student who enters a public institution of higher education
must take the Texas Academic Skills Program  test. The bill also repeals
the provision that deaf students who enroll in an institution of higher
education must take the Stanford Achievement Test. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage. This Act applies beginning with the 2001 fall semester.