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


Senate Research Center   C.S.S.B. 158
77R4000 ESH-DBy: Truan
Education
2/15/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


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, C.S.S.B.158 requires certain schools and open-enrollment
charter 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
counselor at an elementary, middle, or junior high school, including an
open-enrollment charter school offering those grades to advise students and
their parents or guardians  regarding the importance of higher education,
preparation coursework for higher education, and financial aid availability
and requirements.  Requires a counselor, during the first school year a
student is enrolled in a high school or at the high-school level in an
open-enrollment charter school, and again during a student's senior year to
provide information about higher education to the student and students'
parent or guardian. Requires the information to include information
regarding certain criteria.   

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 and open-enrollment charter schools. 

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 or
open-enrollment charter schools 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.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1. Amends As Filed S.B. 158, Section 33.007, Education Code, to
include counselors of  open-enrollment charter schools offering certain
grade levels and makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends As Filed S.B. 158, Section 33.001, Education Code, as
follows: 

 _Inserts "and open-enrollment charter schools" to make a conforming change.

SECTION 3. Amends As Filed S.B. 158, Section 33.007, Education Code, to
make a conforming change. 

SECTION 4. No change.