BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2812

By: Springer

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law limits the number of courses in which a high school student may enroll at a public junior college for dual credit if the junior college does not have a service area that includes the student's high school. The commissioner of education can exempt students from this limitation, but, according to interested parties, the process is lengthy and not well-known. The parties suggest that removing the service area requirement is a common sense solution that will increase dual credit hours and save students travel time and gas money. H.B. 2812 seeks to implement this solution.

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. 2812 repeals Section 130.008(f), Education Code, which limits the number of courses in which a high school student may enroll at a public junior college for dual credit if the junior college does not have a service area that includes the student's high school, unless the student attends an early college high school and has approval from the commissioner of education to exceed the limit.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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