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.