BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1054

By: Clardy

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Recent legislation allowed for the use of a statewide assessment under the Texas Success Initiative to measure college readiness and classify a student's knowledge and skill level.
H.B. 1054 seeks to broaden eligibility for basic academic skills education under the success initiative based on certain performance on the assessment.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1054 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, for each test designated by the coordinating board for use under the Texas Success Initiative, to prescribe a score below which a student is eligible for basic academic skills education, defined by the bill as non-course competency-based developmental education programs and interventions designed for students whose performance falls significantly below college readiness standards. The bill includes basic academic skills education among the developmental coursework provided under the success initiative and expands the coordinating board's rulemaking authority with regard to encouraging institutions of higher education to offer various types of developmental coursework for which course credit may be earned to encompass the implementation of other provisions concerning the success initiative. The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2016–2017 academic year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.