HBA-LJP H.B. 2279 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2279 By: Naishtat Higher Education 3/26/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, a student who is eligible for a tuition and fee exemption at an institution of higher education because the student received financial aid under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) must enroll in an institution no later than the first anniversary of graduation from a Texas public school to receive the exemption. However, many students may need longer than one year after high school graduation to decide whether or not to attend an institution, take any necessary tests, apply, and be accepted by the institution. House Bill 2279 extends the time limit that an eligible student has to enroll in an institution, from the one-year anniversary to the two-year anniversary of high school graduation, to receive the tuition and fee exemption. 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 2279 amends the Education Code to extend the time period, from the first anniversary to the second anniversary of the date of graduation from a public high school in this state, by the end of which eligible students must enroll in an institution of higher education (institution) to be exempt as a student who received financial assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families from the payment of tuition and fees for the first academic year. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with the fall semester 2001.