HBA-LJP H.B. 2279 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2279
By: Naishtat
Higher Education
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a student who is eligible for a tuition and fee
exemption at an institution of higher education because the student
received financial aid under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
must enroll in an institution no later than the first anniversary of
graduation from a Texas public school to receive the exemption.  However,
many students may need longer than one year after high school graduation to
decide whether or not to attend an institution, take any necessary tests,
apply, and be accepted by the institution.  House Bill 2279 extends the
time limit that an eligible student has to enroll in an institution, from
the one-year anniversary to the two-year anniversary of high school
graduation, to receive the tuition and fee exemption. 

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 2279 amends the Education Code to extend the time period, from
the first anniversary to the second anniversary of the date of graduation
from a public high school in this state, by the end of which eligible
students must enroll in an institution of higher education (institution) to
be exempt as a student who received financial assistance under Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families from the payment of tuition and fees for the
first academic year. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with the fall
semester 2001.