SRC-AMY S.B. 258 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 258
78R1128 JSA-DBy: West
Education Committee
2/13/2003
As Filed


DIGEST 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

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

SECTION BY SECTION 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.