SRC-AAA S.B. 1476 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1476
By: Shapiro
Finance
4-1-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the law only offers children who turn 18 while in foster care
an exemption from payment of tuition at a state university.  Many families
are hesitant to adopt older children due to the fact that they cannot
afford the full cost of sending a child to college. S.B. 1476  would allow
children in the foster care system who are eligible for adoption and  who
are age 14 or older an exemption from payment of tuition at a state
university. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1476  allows children in the foster care system who are
eligible for adoption and who are age 14 or older an exemption from
payment of tuition at a state university. 

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 payment of tuition and fees authorized in this
chapter, if the student was in foster or residential care on or after the
day of the student's 14th birthday, if the student was also eligible for
adoption on or after that day or if the student enrolls in an institution
of higher education not later than the third anniversary of the date the
student was discharged from foster or residential care or the student's
21st birthday, whichever is later. 

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with tuition and fees
for the 1997 fall semester. 

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