SRC-JEC, TAG H.B. 757 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 757
By: Giddings (Van de Putte)
Subcommittee on Higher Education
5/24/2003
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The 77th Texas Legislature established the Higher Education Assistance
Pilot Program to assist prospective students in completing applications
related to enrollment in institutions of higher education, including
admissions and financial aid applications.  H.B. 757 makes this "pilot"
program permanent.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Renumbers Section 61.088, Education Code, as added by Chapter
795, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, as Section
61.0901, Education Code, and amends it as follows: 

Sec.  61.0901.  Redesignated from Section 61.088.  HIGHER EDUCATION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.  (a)   Requires the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board (THECB) to administer and coordinate the Higher
Education Assistance Program to provide to prospective students in areas
of this state with the highest number of students who do not attend
institutions of higher education, as determined by THECB, information
related to enrollment in public or private or independent institutions of
higher education, including admissions and financial aid information. 

  (b)  Makes a conforming change.

  (c)  Makes a conforming change.

(d)  Requires THECB, by December 1 of each even-numbered year, rather than
August 31, 2003, to submit to the legislature a report of the program.
Deletes text requiring THECB to submit recommendations on whether to
implement the program on a statewide basis.  

  (e)  Deletes this subsection, which provides an expiration date for this
section. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003. 



LIST OF COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

Amend H.B. 757 as follows:
 (1)  In SECTION 1 of the bill, in proposed Section 61.088(d), Education
Code (Engrossed version page 2, line 7), add the following: 
  "The report must include a comparison of the number of college
acceptances before and after the implementation of the program from areas
served by the program."