CAPITOL WATCH

As a service to its members, the Texas College Reading and Learning Association will post legislative news as it becomes available.  Additionally, this page will provide important links to other sites associated with legislative action affecting higher education support program issues.

THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED AT MIDNIGHT, JUNE 1, 2009

Members of Committees on Higher Education:  House     Senate 

Filed March 12, 2009 – HB3885 – Relating to a study of the effectiveness of the success intiative assessment and developmental coursework requirements and the implementation of a pilot program regarding student readiness for college-level work.  Proposed by Alonzo.  [Amendment to Education Code, Section 51.3062, to be added as subsections o-1 and o-2]

  • Testimony taken and recorded in public hearing on Wednesday, April 8.  Bill is left pending in committee.
  • On April 22, HB3885 was reported out of committee without amendments and is awaiting a reading in the House.
  • April 30 – HB3885 was sent to Calendars
  • June 1 – No action was taken on this bill.

Filed March 11, 2009 – HB3447 – Relating to a study of the effectiveness for junior college students of the success initiative assessment and developmental coursework requirements regarding student readiness for college-level work.  Proposed by Rodriguez.  [Amendment to Education Code, Section 51.3062, to be added as subsection o-2]

  • Public hearing on April 22, 2009, but no action was taken.
  • June 1 – No action was taken on this bill.   

Filed March 11, 2009 – HB3294 - Relating to assessing the effectiveness of certain developmental education courses for students enrolled in public institutions of higher education.  Proposed by Castro.  [Calls for a comparison study between students taking developmental education through alternative methods to those taking traditional semester-long courses.]

  • June 1 – No action was taken this bill.

Filed March 11, 2009 – HB3296 - Relating to alternative developmental education courses under the Texas Success Initiative for institutions of higher education.  Proposed by Castro.  [Requires intitution to offer students needing developmental education the option of enrolling in developmenatal coursework in an intensive or compressed format to avoid schedule conflicts with other courses.  Offered as an amendment to Education Code, Section 51.3062.]

  • This bill was set for hearing on Wednesday, April 8, but has been tabled pending a review by THECB.  THECB will consider the bill’s language and resubmit it for hearing at a future date.
  • On April 22, HB3296 was unanimously reported out of the the House Committe on Higher Education  and is awaiting a reading by the House.
  • May 11 – HB3296 was placed on the General State Calendar
  • June 1 – No action was taken on this bill.

Filed March 9, 2009 – SB1561 – Relating to developing a developmental education plan for students entering public institutions of higher education.  Proposed by Shapiro.  [Assigns primary responsibility for developmental education to public junior colleges.] A companion bill, HB3791, is identical to SB1561 and was filed on March 12, 2009.  Proposed by Morrison. 

  • Scheduled for public hearing on April 22, 2009.  Still in committee as of April 23.
  • Companion bill, HB3791, is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on April 22, 2009. [ See http://tccta.typepad.com/main/2009/04/bill-requires-reassessment-of-developmental-education.html for more information on this bill.]  As of April 23, the bill is still pending in committee.
  • May 11 – SB1561 was considered in public hearing.
  • May 14 – SB1561 reported favorably, printed and distributed.
  • May 18 – SB1561 was placed on the intent calendar, but was not again placed on the intent calendar on May 19.
  • June 1 – No action was taken on this bill.

Filed March 9, 2009 – SB1567 - Relating to an early developmental education intervention pilot project for high school students entering into public instituions of higher education. Proposed by Shapleigh.

  • As of May 20, no action has been taken on this senate bill since its referral to committe on March 17.
  • June 1 – No action was taken on this bill.

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One Response to “CAPITOL WATCH”

10.03.09#1

Comment by sharon.