S.B. 258 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 258
By: West
Higher Education
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law allows community colleges, but not four-year colleges
and universities, to waive tuition and fees for students enrolled in high
school and college concurrently. Concurrent enrollment reduces the cost of
a college education and the time it takes to earn a college degree.
Concurrent enrollment also reduces the amount of money the state pays for
high school funding for a student.  Including four-year colleges and
universities in concurrent enrollment would increase students' educational
options, and possibly increase the savings to the state. As proposed, S.B.
258 authorizes four-year colleges and universities to waive all of part of
the tuition and fees for a student concurrently enrolled in high school
and a four-year college or university. 


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 54D, Education Code, by adding Section 54.216,
as follows: 

Sec. 54.216. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN COURSE FOR CONCURRENT HIGH
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE-LEVEL CREDIT. Authorizes the governing board of an
institution of higher education to waive all or part of its tuition and
fees for a student enrolled in 
a course that allows the student to receive, simultaneously, credit toward
high school academic 
requirements and a degree offered by the institution.

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


EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of
all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article
III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary
for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003.