BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1479 By: Hilderbran 3-22-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Four years ago, a rider to the Appropriations bill allowed Texas high school students who completed their graduation requirements in three years to receive a tuition and fee waiver at an institution of higher education and forgo their fourth year in high school. Unfortunately, this provision expired two years ago. Although this provision was designed to help exemplary students, it also helped to defray the cost of sending a student through their fourth year of high school. The state could realize savings of as much as $3,300 per student foregoing the fourth year in high school and attending an institution of higher education. Further efforts to reform the Texas welfare system could be augmented by extending a tuition and fee waiver to certain Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) beneficiaries who complete high school with satisfactory attendance. PURPOSE This bill provides a tuition and fee waiver at institutions of higher education for certain Texas high school students who complete their graduation requirements in three years and also provides a tuition and fee waiver at institutions of higher education for certain AFDC recipient children who graduate from high school. 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 54 D, Education Code, by adding Sections 54.212, 54.213 and 54.214 to read as follows: Sec. 54.212. ONE-YEAR EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN AFDC STUDENTS. Allows for a one-year tuition and fees exemption for an AFDC student's first academic year at a state institution of higher education provided that: (1) the student graduated from a Texas high school; (2) had satisfactory attendance; (3) was a Texas AFDC recipient during their last year in high school; (4) is under the age of 22 on date of enrollment; (5) enrolls at institution no later than 2 years after graduation; (6) has met all college entrance requirements; and (7) is a Texas resident. Sec. 54.213. ONE-YEAR EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN EARLY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. Allows for a one year tuition and fees exemption for certain early high school graduates first academic year at a state institution of higher education provided that: (1) the student graduated from a Texas high school; (2) had satisfactory attendance; (3) has written permission from parent, legal guardian, or conservator; (4) is under the age of 22 on date of enrollment; (5) enrolls at institution no later than 2 years after graduation; (6) has met all college entrance requirements; and (7) is a Texas resident. Sec. 54.214. RECOVERY OF COST OF CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS. (a) No later than September 15 of each year, the governing board of each institution of higher education shall notify the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board of: (1) the number of students enrolled under the provisions of this bill; and (2) the amount of tuition and fees exempted under the provisions of this bill. (b) No later than October 1, of each year, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall notify the commissioner of education and the foundation school fund budget committee of: (1) the number of students enrolled under the provisions of this bill; and (2) the total amount of tuition and fees exempted under the provisions of this bill. (c) On receipt of notice under Subsection (b) above, the commissioner of education shall reimburse Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the total amount of tuition and fees exempted from the provisions of this bill from the foundation school program. (d) On receipt of payment under Subsection (c) above, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall pay each institution the tuition and fees exempted under the provisions of this bill. (e) The commissioner of education and foundation school budget committee shall consider the costs/savings of the exemptions in this bill when estimating the money needed for the foundation school program. SECTION 2. Effective date: Fall, 1995. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION H.B. 1479 was considered by the committee in a public hearing on March 21, 1995. The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 1 absent.