BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 694
                                                     By: Montford
                                                        Education
                                                           3-9-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

S.B. 183, 73rd Legislature, granted tuition exemptions to deaf or
blind students at public institutions of higher education.  Deaf
students have been paying tuition at Southwest Collegiate Institute
for the Deaf (SWCID) since its creation.  Deaf students receive
assistance from vocational rehabilitation counselors and much of
their money currently goes to pay or help pay for SWCID tuition. 
Counselors are sometimes hesitant to send these individuals to
SWCID because it takes up more of their available funds.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 694 exempts a resident student in the Southwest
Collegiate Institute for the Deaf from tuition. 

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 Section 54.205(a), Education Code, to define
"institution of higher education."

SECTION 2. Amends Section 131.005(a), Education Code, to delete the
requirement that a Texas resident student enrolled in the Southwest
Collegiate Institute for the Deaf pay tuition at the rate provided
by law for enrollment at Howard County Junior College.

SECTION 3. Provides that this Act takes effect beginning with the
fall semester of 1995.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.