PDH S.B. 406 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 406
By: Lucio
Higher Education
4-16-1999
Engrossed


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, state law sets forth the types of test instruments and
procedures to be used in the academic testing of students in certain
schools.  Students in some proprietary schools may not be achieving certain
required levels of achievement with regard to the Texas Academic Skills
Program, or any other test created by Section 51.306 (Texas Academic Skills
Program), Education Code. 

S.B. 406 prohibits the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board)
from requiring a student of a proprietary school to take or pass the test
adopted by the board under Section 51.306, Education Code, or a similar
test in order to receive a degree. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 132.063, Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 132.063.  New title:  APPROVED DEGREES; ACADEMIC TESTING.  Prohibits
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) from requiring a
student of a proprietary school to take or pass the test adopted by the
board under Section 51.306 or a similar test in order to receive a degree. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
            Effective date: upon passage.