SRC-MWN, BWC S.B. 158 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 158
77R1493 ESH-DBy: Truan
Education
2/9/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their classes are
eligible for automatic admission to any state-supported institution of
higher education. Additionally, programs to provide financial aid and
counseling are available. However, the special Commission on 21st Century
Colleges and Universities found that many schools fail to provide
counseling to inform students and their parents of such educational
opportunities and the standards that must be met to qualify for assistance.
As proposed, S.B. 158 requires schools to provide counseling regarding the
importance of higher education, the advantages for completing the
recommended or advanced high school program, financial aid eligibility, how
to apply for federal financial aid, acquiring access to the center for
financial aid information, the automatic admission of students who graduate
in the top 10 percent of their class, and conditions for receiving a Texas
Grant. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education
in SECTION 3 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 33A, Education Code, by adding Section 33.007,
as follows: 

Sec. 33.007.  COUNSELING REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION.  Requires each
elementary, middle, or junior high school counselor to advise students and
their parents or guardians  regarding the importance of higher education,
preparation coursework for higher education, and financial aid
availability.  Requires a high school counselor to provide information to
first-year high school students, senior students, and students' parents or
guardians about higher education that is required to include certain
information.   

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 33.001, Education Code, by  providing that this
subchapter applies only to a school district that receives funds as
provided by Section 42.152(i), except that Section 33.007 applies to all
school districts. 

SECTION 3.  Makes Section 33.007, Education Code, as added by this Act,
applicable beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.  Requires the
commissioner of education to adopt rules regarding the provision of
counseling regarding higher education as required by Section 33.007(b),
Education Code, as added by this Act, to high school students other than
those for whom the 2001-2002 school year is the first or senior year of
high school. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2001.