BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2396

By: Howard

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law requires the governing boards of each medical unit of an institution of higher education and of each public school of law to set aside a portion of tuition charges for each student registered in a medical branch, school, or college or enrolled in the school of law, respectively, for the repayment of certain student loans. According to interested parties, money collected from these set-asides is not appropriated for the intended uses, meaning students are being charged tuition for ineffective programs. H.B. 2396 seeks to address this problem.

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. 2396 repeals Sections 61.539 and 61.9731, Education Code, relating to the medical school and law school tuition set aside for student loan repayment programs for certain physicians and state attorneys, applicable beginning with the 2015 fall semester.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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