BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2640 By: Madden (Nelson) Education 5-18-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The State Auditor's Office often encounters the problem of over-reporting by colleges when trying to determine the number of students enrolled in a public community college. The State Auditor's Office uses add/drop dates to determine the student enrollment in public community colleges. Currently, there is no language providing for a uniform add/drop date used by community colleges statewide. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2640 requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish a uniform add/drop date that can be used by public community colleges throughout Texas. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under SECTION 1 (Sec. 130.008(a) and (d), Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 130A, Education Code, by adding Section 130.008, as follows: Sec. 130.008. UNIFORM DATES FOR ADDING OR DROPPING COURSE. (a) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board), by rule, to establish uniform final dates, counted from the first class day of an academic semester or term, for adding or dropping a course conducted by a public junior college. Provides that the uniform dates apply to each public junior college in this state. (b) Prohibits a student from enrolling in a course after a uniform final date for adding a course established under this section. Provides that a student is not entitled to a refund of any tuition or fees for a course that the student drops after a uniform final date for dropping a course established under this section. (c) Authorizes the rules to provide for different dates for academic semesters or terms of different durations. (d) Requires the board to establish rules under this section by December 1, 1995. Provides that the rules apply to each academic semester or term that begins on or after January 1, 1996. Provides that this subsection expires September 1, 1996. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.