SRC-MWN S.B. 1057 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1057
77R8502 JSA-DBy: Ellis, Rodney
Education
3/18/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the TEXAS Grant Program grants students the opportunity to
enroll into institutions of higher education. An interim committee report
recommended improvements to help raise awareness of the program among
certain groups. As proposed, S.B. 1057 implements recommendations from the
TEXAS Grant Program Legislative Oversight Committee's interim report.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 56.304, Education Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 56.304(e), Education Code, to provide that a
person's eligibility for a TEXAS grant ends on the sixth anniversary of the
initial award of a TEXAS grant to the person and the person's enrollment in
an eligible institution, unless the person is provided additional time
during which the person is authorized to receive a TEXAS grant under this
subsection. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
(coordinating board) to adopt rules to provide a person who is otherwise
eligible to receive a TEXAS grant additional time during which the person
is authorized to receive a TEXAS grant in the event of a hardship or other
good cause shown that prevents the person from continuing the person's
enrollment during the period the person would otherwise have been eligible
to receive a TEXAS grant, including a showing of a severe illness or other
debilitating condition or that the person is or was responsible for the
care of a sick, injured, or needy person. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 61.0776, Education Code, by adding Subsection
(f), to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) and
the commissioner of education to develop a plan or set of recommendations
to ensure that information on the TEXAS grant program and other financial
aid information described by Subsection (a) is adequately publicized to
prospective students and financial aid recipients and their parents and to
school counselors, student financial aid offices, and other appropriate
entities. Requires the board and the commissioner of education to report
the results of the study and the plan or recommendations to the legislature
not later than October 1, 2002. Provides that this subsection expires
January 1, 2003.  

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.
                      Makes application of this Act prospective to the
2001-2002
academic year.