HBA-SEP, JLV H.B. 1645 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1645 By: Delisi Higher Education 7/9/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires each undergraduate student entering an institution of higher education who does not achieve certain scores on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test, American College Test, or Scholastic Assessment Test to take the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) test to assess whether the student's skill level is adequate to perform effectively in an undergraduate degree program. There are exemptions from TASP for students enrolled in distance learning outside the state, deaf students, students who have graduated with a baccalaureate degree, and students who are enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less. Prior to the 77th Legislature, an undergraduate student transferring from an accredited private, independent, or out-of-state institution of higher education typically was not exempt from the TASP test. House Bill 1645 exempts from the TASP test requirement, a transfer student who has earned a grade of "B" or better in each of the three skill areas covered by the TASP test at an accredited private, independent, or out-of-state institution of higher education. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1645 amends the Education Code to exempt an undergraduate student transferring from an accredited private, independent, or out-of-state institution of higher education if, in each of the three skill areas covered by the TASP test, the student has earned a grade of "B" or better in a transferred freshman level course included in the list of courses established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for each skill area of the TASP test. EFFECTIVE DATE June 14, 2001.