HB 564 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 564
Haggerty 
Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a person seeking to enter a public institution of
higher education as an undergraduate  student is required to take the
Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) test.  Military personnel on active
duty in Texas are exempt from this requirement, however a person serving
in a reserve component of the U.S. military or the Texas National Guard is
not exempt from taking the TASP.  HB 564 exempts a student, with at least
three years service in the Texas National Guard or a reserve component of
the armed forces of the United States or is an honorably discharged
veteran after August 1,1990, from being required to take the TASP test. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 51 of the Education Code to exempt a student
who has served on active duty as a member of the Texas National Guard, a
student who is currently serving and has served at least three years as a
member of the U.S. armed forces, or a student who on or after August 1,
1990, was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty of
the Texas National Guard, the U.S. armed forces, or a reserve component of
the armed forces. 

SECTION 2 notes that a change in law made by this Act applies only to a
student who enrolls at a public institution for a semester or summer
session that begins on or after the effective date of the Act. 

SECTION 3.  Effective Date - September 1, 2003, unless this Act receives
the necessary votes for immediate effect.