SRC-JJJ S.B. 282 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 282
76R1051 KEL-DBy: Madla
Education
3/2/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law does not authorize automatic admission of certain
students into general academic teaching institutions.  S.B. 288 would grant
automatic admission into general academic teaching institutions for
undergraduate transfer students who graduate from a public junior college
or public technical institute with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on
a four-point scale. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 282 establishes criteria for automatic admission of
certain undergraduate transfer students. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking is granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and
each general academic teaching institution in SECTION 3(b) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 51.801, Education Code, to define "public junior
college" and "public technical institute." 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 51S, Education Code, by adding Section 51.8065,
as follows: 

Sec. 51.8065.  AUTOMATIC ADMISSION: UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER STUDENTS.
Requires each general academic teaching institution to admit an applicant
for admission to the institution as an undergraduate transfer student, if
certain conditions are met in the year preceding the academic year for
which the applicant is applying.  Requires the applicant to submit an
application before an expiration date or deadline, in order to qualify for
admission.  Authorizes the institution to review the applicant's record and
any other factor the institution considers appropriate to determine whether
the applicant may require additional course work, or would benefit from
inclusion in a retention program.  Authorizes the institution to require a
student to enroll in the summer to participate in enrichment courses and
orientation programs.  Provides that this section does not prohibit a
student who is not determined to need additional preparation for
college-level work from enrolling, if the student chooses, during the
summer immediately after the student is admitted under this section. 

SECTION 3.  (a)  Establishes that the change in law made by this Act
applies beginning with             admissions for the 2000 fall semester. 

(b)  Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and each
general academic institution to adopt rules or policies relating to the
admission of students under Section 51.8065, Education Code, as added by
this Act, no later than January 1, 2000. 

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.
                       Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.