BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3578 82R2498 KJM-D By: Gonzales, Larry (Zaffirini) Higher Education 5/17/2011 Engrossed BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 3578 82R2498 KJM-D By: Gonzales, Larry (Zaffirini) Higher Education 5/17/2011 Engrossed Senate Research Center H.B. 3578 82R2498 KJM-D By: Gonzales, Larry (Zaffirini) Higher Education 5/17/2011 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT The maximum amount of an emergency loan that a public institution of higher education may offer to an eligible student who is unable to pay tuition and mandatory fees is insufficient to cover certain education costs. H.B. 3578 seeks to remedy this by increasing the maximum amount of an emergency loan to include the costs of textbooks. H.B. 3578 amends current law relating to clarification of the authorized uses for loans under public institution of higher education emergency loan programs. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority previously granted to the governing board of an institution of higher education is modified in SECTION 2 (Section 56.053, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 56, Education Code, to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. EMERGENCY TUITION, FEE, AND TEXTBOOK LOANS SECTION 2. Amends Section 56.053(a), Education Code, as follows: (a) Requires the governing board of each institution to adopt rules providing for the terms of the loan, subject to the following: (1)-(2) Makes no changes to these subdivisions; and (3) the loan amount per student may not exceed an amount equal to the tuition, mandatory fees, and cost of textbooks for the courses in which the student is actually enrolling. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011. AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT The maximum amount of an emergency loan that a public institution of higher education may offer to an eligible student who is unable to pay tuition and mandatory fees is insufficient to cover certain education costs. H.B. 3578 seeks to remedy this by increasing the maximum amount of an emergency loan to include the costs of textbooks. H.B. 3578 amends current law relating to clarification of the authorized uses for loans under public institution of higher education emergency loan programs. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority previously granted to the governing board of an institution of higher education is modified in SECTION 2 (Section 56.053, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 56, Education Code, to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. EMERGENCY TUITION, FEE, AND TEXTBOOK LOANS SECTION 2. Amends Section 56.053(a), Education Code, as follows: (a) Requires the governing board of each institution to adopt rules providing for the terms of the loan, subject to the following: (1)-(2) Makes no changes to these subdivisions; and (3) the loan amount per student may not exceed an amount equal to the tuition, mandatory fees, and cost of textbooks for the courses in which the student is actually enrolling. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.