BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 240

80R808 CAS-D                                                                                                             By: Gallegos

                                                                                                                    S/C on Higher Education

                                                                                                                                              3/2/2007

                                                                                                                                              As Filed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program (program) is a financial assistance program for students who graduate from high school in fewer than four years.  To be eligible for an award through this program, a student must have graduated from high school in less than four years and successfully completed the recommended or advanced high school curriculum, have attended high school exclusively in one or more Texas public schools, and be a Texas resident.   However, migrant students who must travel out of state to assist their family with seasonal work are ineligible to participate in this program even if they graduate from high school in less than four years and successfully complete the recommended or advanced high school curriculum. 

 

As proposed, S.B. 240 allows a student who is otherwise eligible for this program and who is a migratory student to be qualified for an award through the program despite attending high school in another state. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 56.203, Education Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 56.203, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (e) and (f), as follows:

 

(a) Provides an exception, Subsection (e), to the requirement that an eligible person for the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program (program) attend a public high school exclusively in Texas and is a Texas resident.

 

(e) Sets forth the requirements for a migratory child, defined by 20 U.S.C. Section 6399 (Definitions), to be eligible for an award through the program despite the inability to satisfy the requirements in Subsection (a)(2) and (3).

 

(f) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to adopt rules to determine whether the person  is eligible under the requirements in Subsection (e)(2).  Authorizes THECB to adopt other rules deemed necessary by THECB for the administration of Subsection (e).

 

SECTION 2.  Makes the application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.