HBA-MSH S.B. 554 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 554
By: Carona
Economic Development
4/17/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas does not provide any state financial assistance to
students who attend private career colleges and schools.  The economy of
the state would benefit from having a more highly trained and skilled
workforce.  Allowing more people to afford and thus attend an institution
for postsecondary career education and training may increase the level of
skills found in the workforce.  Senate Bill 554 establishes the Texas
Career Opportunity Grant Program to provide tuition assistance to Texas
students enrolled in a qualified education program at eligible proprietary
schools. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Workforce Commission in
SECTION 1 (Sections 305.026 and 305.028, Labor Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 554 amends the Labor Code to create the Texas Career
Opportunity Grant Program.  The bill authorizes the Texas Workforce
Commission (TWC) to provide tuition assistance to Texas students enrolled
in a qualified education program at an eligible proprietary school.  The
bill sets forth the criteria to be considered in selecting applicants to
receive tuition grants and the maximum amount of the grant for each
applicant (Secs. 305.021 and 305.022).  The bill requires TWC to approve a
proprietary school for its students to participate in the grant program if
the school meets specified requirements (Sec. 305.023). The bill requires
TWC to ensure compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in administering
the grant program (Sec. 305.025).  The bill sets forth eligibility
requirements for a person to apply to the grant program (Sec. 305.026).
The bill sets forth provisions relating to the certification and payment of
a grant (Sec. 305.027).  The bill authorizes TWC to adopt reasonable rules
to administer and enforce the grant program and requires TWC to distribute
a copy of these rules to each eligible proprietary school (Sec. 305.028).
The bill requires TWC to prepare and deliver to the legislature an annual
report regarding the grant program (Sec. 305.029). 

The bill authorizes TWC to award grants for the 2001-2002 academic year
only to a person attending the person's first academic year at an eligible
institution and grants for the 2002-2003 academic year only to a person
attending the person's first or second academic year (Sec. 305.030). 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.