SRC-CTC H.B. 2109 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2109
By: Farrar (Ellis)
Education
5/3/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires each undergraduate student entering an institution of
higher education who does not achieve certain scores on the Texas
Assessment of Academic Skills test, American College Test, or Scholastic
Assessment Test to take the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) test to
assess whether the student's skill level is adequate to perform effectively
in an undergraduate degree program. There are exemptions from TASP for
students enrolled in distance learning outside the state, deaf students,
students who have graduated with a baccalaureate degree, and students who
are enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less.  A student who
graduates from high school with a higher grade point average may not need 
to take a diagnostic test to indicate whether the student's skill level is
adequate to perform effectively in an undergraduate degree program.  H.B.
2109 exempts from the TASP test requirement a person who graduates from a
public high school or accredited private high school in any state with a
grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent and
has completed certain curriculum requirements if that person enrolls in an
institution of higher education on or before the fifth anniversary of the
date the student graduated from high school. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 51.306, Education Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 51.306, Education Code, by adding Subsection (x)
to provide that a person is exempt from this section under certain
conditions.  Provides that the exemption is effective only for a student
who enrolls in an institution of higher education on or before the second
anniversary of the date the student graduated from high school.  Requires a
student enrolling for the first time in an institution of higher education
after the two-year period has elapsed to conform to all applicable
provisions of this section.  Requires the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board by rule to establish standards for determining certain
items for the purposes of this subsection. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.