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."