Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3276 by Howard, Donna (Relating to the determination of student priority in awarding TEXAS grants.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Education Code as it relates to priority in awarding TEXAS Grants. Currently, the Higher Education Coordinating Board and eligible higher education institutions give highest priority to awarding TEXAS grants to students who demonstrate the greatest financial need. The bill would add a section that, beginning with grants awarded for the 2012-2013 academic year, priority would be given, in addition to financial need, to students who meet or exceed the standards developed for assessment instruments designed to assess a student's readiness to perform freshman-level academic coursework. While the bill would not impact the overall funding of TEXAS grants, the allocation to each institution could be impacted. Several institutions have indicated this change could impact the number of students that receive TEXAS grants at their respective institution.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration