BILL ANALYSIS
By: Van de Putte
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, some graduate schools' admission applications include a question on the applicant's eligibility for the Hazlewood Act. The Hazlewood Act gives 150 credit hour tuition exemptions to certain veterans of the United States armed forces. This information could be used to negatively affect the applicant's chances of acceptance into the educational program, due to the school's absorption of the cost of the Hazlewood exemption. Veterans are entitled to this benefit through their service to the country, and have been since 1923.
As proposed, S.B. 1852 prohibits the consideration of the fact that an applicant qualifies for Hazlewood in determining whether to admit the person to the educational program.
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 Section 54.203, Education Code, by adding Subsection (h), to prohibit an institution of higher education, in determining whether to admit a person to any certificate program or any baccalaureate, graduate, post graduate, or professional degree program, from considering the fact that the person is eligible for an exemption under this section (Veterans, Dependents, Etc.).
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2006 spring semester.
SECTION 3. Effective date:
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, 2005.