BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1338 By: Rodriguez 03-29-95 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND A student enrolled at a public institution of higher education is required to take the Texas Assessment of Skills Proficiency (TASP) prior to taking more than nine hours of course work. The purpose of the TASP is to assess the student's abilities to successfully complete college-level work. However, some students are enrolled in certificate programs and do not go on to a four-year institution. PURPOSE H.B. 1338 exempts students enrolled in a certificate program from taking the TASP. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51 F, Education Code, Section 51.306(b) and adds (s) to read as follows: Sec. 51.306. TESTING and REMEDIAL COURSEWORK. Exempts all full-time and part-time freshmen enrolled in a certificate program from having to take the TASP. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 51 F, Education Code, Section 51.3061(b) and adds (f) to read as follows: Sec. 51.3061. TESTING and REMEDIAL COURSEWORK FOR DEAF STUDENTS. Exempts a deaf student who is a full-time or part-time freshman enrolled in a certificate program from having to take the Stanford Achievement Test. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENT The amendment states that this section would not apply to a student enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION H.B. 1338 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on April 4, 1995. The committee considered an amendment to the bill. The amendment was adopted without objection by a non-record vote. The following persons testified in favor of the bill: Dr. Bob Ramsay; Ms. Betty J. Larson; and Mr. Dale Hardgrove. The bill was reported favorably as amended, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 1 absent.