BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 181
                                                      By: Ratliff
                                                        Education
                                                         01-25-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Current statute mandates that any student receiving a baccalaureate
degree from a state-funded college or university must complete six
semester hours in both American Government and American History. A
student may receive credit for this requirement by transferring
hours completed at another college or by passing an advanced
placement exam accepted by the college or university. However, a
student cannot receive credit for more than three semester hours.
Unfortunately, this eliminates the opportunity for a highly-motivated student to fulfill this requirement solely through credit
by examination.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. provides for college credit in government or
political science and in American or Texas history through advanced
standing examination.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 51.301 and 51.302, Education Code, to
delete the provision that prohibits credit for the advanced
standing examination from exceeding three semester hours.

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.