BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2304

By: Lewis

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law is ambiguous regarding the eligibility of a child who is under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services but who is not in foster care or other residential care for a tuition and fee exemption at a public institution of higher education.

H.B. 2304, with regard to the tuition and fee exemption at public institutions of higher education for students under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services, removes the condition that the student was in foster care or other residential care and extends the eligibility for a tuition and fee exemption to a student who was under the department's conservatorship and who enrolls in a dual credit or joint high school and college credit course.

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

H.B. 2304 amends the Education Code to remove the condition that a student had been in foster care or other residential care in order to qualify for tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education on the basis of having been under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services. The bill extends the tuition and fee exemption to a student who was under the department's conservatorship during an academic term in which the student was enrolled in a dual credit course or other course for which a high school student may earn joint high school and college credit. The bill extends the tuition and fee exemption to a student who was under the department's conservatorship during any period specified in the statute as a condition of eligibility and who enrolls in a dual credit course as described above not later than specified deadlines. The bill makes its provisions applicable beginning with tuition and other fees charged for the 2009 fall semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.