HBA-LJP H.B. 791 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 791
By: Gallego
Higher Education
2/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, few institutions of higher education require public service for
undergraduate students as a requirement for graduation.  Public service has
the potential to help students develop a sense of citizenship, personal
growth, and a greater understanding of society while providing valuable
services to the community. House Bill 791 mandates that institutions of
higher education require undergraduate students to perform at least 28
hours of unpaid public service in a qualified program to receive a degree
or certification. 

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 791 amends the Education Code to provide that a student who
first enrolls in a private, public, or independent institution of higher
education (institution) on or after September 1, 2001, must perform at
least 28 hours of unpaid public service during one semester to receive
either a baccalaureate degree or a certificate for an undergraduate program
which requires at least 60 semester credit hours.  The bill provides that
the public service must consist of an activity for and under the
supervision of a specified entity that benefits needy or deserving persons,
as determined by the institution the student attends. 

The bill requires each institution to assign an office to coordinate and
monitor the establishment of a public service program and to develop a
diverse list of approved public service organizations and entities.  The
bill also requires each institution to permit a student to propose
additional organizations or entities for the list.  The bill further
requires a student to select one or more of the listed agencies to
supervise and document the student's performance of the required public
service. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.