SRC-CTC C.S.H.B. 2109 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 2109 By: Farrar (Ellis, Rodney) Education 5/8/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.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 3.5 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. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Differs from the original by amending the conditions under which a person is exempt from Section 51.306, Education Code.