BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 46
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
This legislation seeks to improve college outreach, support tutoring in remedial or development classes, and increase student transfers from community colleges to four-year institutions of higher education. This law will take advantage of the large numbers of retiring baby boomers and offer them incentives to participate in college success initiatives and outreach.
C.S.S.B. 46 relates to tuition exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain students who volunteer for outreach programs.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 54.223, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, by adding Section 54.223, as follows:
Sec. 54.223. STUDENTS VOLUNTEERING FOR OUTREACH PROGRAMS. (a) Authorizes the governing board of an institution of higher education to exempt from the payment of tuition and fees for one course offered by the institution per semester or other term any student enrolled in the institution who is 55 years of age or older; a resident of this state for purposes of this title or entitled to pay tuition at the rate provided by this chapter for residents of this state; and serves as a volunteer for a certain number of hours for an outreach, mentoring, or recruitment program designed to assist or encourage persons to be admitted to and attend institutions of higher education, students who are currently enrolled in institutions of higher education to complete their degree programs, or students who are enrolled in developmental coursework to successfully complete that coursework.
(b) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to adopt necessary rules for administration of this section.
SECTION 2. (a) Makes application of this Act prospective to the 2010 spring semester.
(b) Requires THECB to adopt initial rules required by Section 54.223, Education Code, not later than December 1, 2009.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.