SRC-HRD H.B. 767 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 767
By: Junell (Lindsay)
Finance
5-14-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Section 54.211, Education Code, permits youths in the Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services (department) foster care to obtain free
tuition at state-operated colleges, universities, and vocational schools
when they become 18 years of age or older.

Seventy-three youths utilized the tuition waiver in academic year 1993-94,
at a cost of $50,878 to taxpayers.  This number grew to 168 in academic
year 1994-95, at a cost of $102,308 to taxpayers. The figure for academic
year 1995-96 is 217 youths.  Section 54.211, Education Code, has provided
an incentive for many children in foster care to complete high school and
enter college.
Currently, state law requires that former foster care youths must be 18 or
older to utilize the college tuition waiver.  The department estimates
that this issue affects about 25 youths per year who graduate high school
before their 18th birthday and are ready to attend college. The department
estimates that about 20 children stay in the department conservatorship
while waiting to reach age 18 to take advantage of the college tuition
waiver.  Meanwhile, the state continues to pay for the foster care of
these children.                

H.B. 767 would extend the tuition waiver to youths of any age who graduate
from high school or receive a high school equivalency degree while under
the department conservatorship.
PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 767 extends the tuition waiver to youths of any age  who
graduate from high school or receive a high school equivalency degree
while under the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
conservatorship.                                              

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 54.211, Education Code, to provide that a
student is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees authorized in this
chapter if the student was in foster care or other residential care under
the conservatorship of the Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services when the student graduated from high school or received the
equivalent of a high school diploma; and enrolls in an institution of
higher education as an undergraduate student not later than the third
anniversary of the date the student was discharged from the foster or
other residential care, the date the student graduated from high school,
or the date the student received the equivalent of a high school diploma,
whichever is earliest.   

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1997 fall
semester. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.