HBA-SEP, JLV H.B. 1645 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1645
By: Delisi
Higher Education
3/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires each undergraduate student entering an institution of
higher education who does not achieve certain scores on the Texas
Assessment of Academic Skills test, American College Test, or Scholastic
Assessment Test to take the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) test to
assess whether the student's skill level is adequate to perform effectively
in an undergraduate degree program.  There are exemptions from TASP for
students enrolled in distance learning outside the state, deaf students,
students who have graduated with a baccalaureate degree, and students who
are enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less.  A student who
has accumulated 60 or more semester credit hours at an accredited
out-of-state institution of higher education may not need to take a
diagnostic test to indicate whether the student's skill level is adequate
to perform effectively in an undergraduate degree program.  House Bill 1645
exempts from the TASP test requirement, a transfer student who has
accumulated 60 or more semester credit hours at an accredited out-of-state
institution of higher education authorized to award baccalaureate degrees. 

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 1645 amends the Education Code to exempt a transfer student who
has accumulated 60 or more semester credit hours at an accredited
out-of-state institution of higher education authorized to award
baccalaureate degrees from participating in the Texas Academic Skills
Program. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.