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.