SRC-ARR H.B. 2011 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2011 By: Cuellar (Zaffirini) Education 5/13/1999 Engrossed DIGEST The Texas Academic Skill Program (TASP) was develop after the 1987 legislative session. It is a test that contains three sections: reading, writing, and mathematics. While one testing session lasts five hours, the individual sections are not timed and students may work on the sections in any order they choose. H.B. 2011 sets forth requirements for the administration of the Texas Academic Skills Program. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2011 sets forth requirements for the administration of the Texas Academic Skills Program. 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 51.306(w), Education Code, to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) and the Texas Education Agency to develop a mechanism for the payment of the cost of the test, giving priority to the payment of the cost of administering the test to an eligible high school student shown to be financially needy under criteria established by the board, if funds are appropriated for that purpose. Requires the test scores of a high school student to be reported only to the student and the student's parents, except as authorized by the student. SECTION 2. Amends Section 51.306, Education Code, to adding Subsection (x), to require the test required by this section to be administered in a time period that allows a student to complete the test while working at the student's own reasonable pace. Requires the board to prescribe the time period for administering the test. SECTION 3. Provides that the change in law by this Act takes effect beginning with the 1999 fall semester. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.