BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 446 By: Luna (Hernandez) 03-08-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio has contracted with the U.S. Army to grant degrees for the Physician Assistant Program at the Academy of Health Sciences at Fort Sam Houston. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 446 authorizes an exemption from the required governmental or political science course with an emphasis on the Texas Constitution to certain degree programs operated by a higher education medical or dental unit under contract with the U.S. Army. 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 51F, Education Code, Section 51.301(b), to read as follows: Sec. 51.301. GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL SCIENCE. (b) Authorizes the exemption of the required government or political science course with emphasis on the Texas Constitution to a student enrolled in an academic program offered by a medical and dental unit if: (1) the program is operated under contract with the U.S. Army; (2) the participant has less than two years of residency in this state; and (3) participant is stationed outside of this state. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION S.B. 446 was considered by the committee in lieu of H.B. 1011 in a public hearing on March 7, 1995. The following person testified neutrally on S.B. 446: Mr. James G. Van Straten, Dean, School of Allied Health Sciences. S.B. 446 was reported favorably without amendment, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, and 4 absent.