By Hilbert                                            H.B. No. 3138
         77R8812 T                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the costs of and reducing the need for remedial
 1-3     education of high school graduates.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 45, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 45.113 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 45.113.  SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITY FOR REMEDIAL
 1-8     EDUCATION COSTS.  (a)  The commissioner of education may assign to
 1-9     a school district that consistently graduates students who require
1-10     postsecondary remedial education all or a part of the costs of
1-11     remedial education provided by an institution of higher education.
1-12     The commissioner shall assign the costs as provided by the rules
1-13     adopted under this section and Section 51.3062.
1-14           (b)  The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the
1-15     Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, shall adopt rules to
1-16     facilitate charging school districts for remedial education costs
1-17     under this section.  The rules shall be designed to ensure
1-18     fairness, consistency, and fundamental due process.
1-19           (c)  In this section, "institution of higher education" has
1-20     the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
1-21           SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
1-22     amended by adding Sections 51.3062 and 51.3063 to read as follows:
1-23           Sec. 51.3062.  RULES APPLYING TO REMEDIAL EDUCATION COSTS.
1-24     The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in cooperation with
 2-1     the State Board of Education, shall adopt rules to facilitate
 2-2     charging school districts for remedial education costs under
 2-3     Section 45.112.  The rules shall be designed to ensure fairness,
 2-4     consistency, and fundamental due process.
 2-5           Sec. 51.3063.  ELIMINATION OF REMEDIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
 2-6     (a)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall develop a
 2-7     plan for the gradual elimination of remedial educational programs
 2-8     at institutions of higher education.  Not later than February 1,
 2-9     2003, the coordinating board shall make a report of its results to
2-10     the 76th Legislature.
2-11           (b)  This section expires June 1, 2003.
2-12           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.