BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1603
87R419 TSS-F	By: Huberty; Spiller (Seliger)
	Education
	5/3/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

During the 84th Legislative Session, the original language creating individual graduation committees passed and became law through the passage of S.B. 149. Since then, the sunset date has been extended twice through two additional pieces of legislation. As proposed, H.B. 1603 removes the sunset date and makes the provisions allowing for individual graduation committees permanent. 

Since 2015, individual graduation committees (IGC) have allowed students who are juniors or seniors and who fail to pass one or two end-of-course examinations required for graduation to receive consideration by an IGC. The IGC may require the student to complete additional remediation and complete a project or portfolio in the area in which the student failed the exam. The IGC considers, when determining whether the student will graduate, factors such as the student's grades in relevant coursework, overall attendance rate, score on the Texas Success Initiative, completion of dual credit and courses toward a professional certification, as well as the student's preparedness for college or a career.

H.B. 1603 amends current law relating to the use of individual graduation committees and other alternative methods to satisfy certain public high school graduation requirements.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 12.104(b-2) and (b-3), Education Code, as follows:

(b-2) Deletes existing text providing that this subsection (relating to subjecting an open-enrollment charter school to the requirement to establish an individual graduation committee) expires September 1, 2023.

(b-3) Deletes existing text providing that this subsection (relating to subjecting an open-enrollment charter school to the graduation qualification procedure established by the commissioner of education) expires September 1, 2023.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 28.025(c-6), Education Code, to delete existing text providing that this subsection (relating to the authorization of certain persons to receive a diploma) expires September 1, 2023.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 28.02591(a), Education Code, to make a conforming change.

SECTION 4. Amends Sections 39.025(a-3) and (a-5), Education Code, as follows:

(a-3) Deletes existing text providing that this subsection (relating to end-of-course assessment requirements for students with certain assessment scores) expires September 1, 2023.

(a-5) Deletes existing text providing that this subsection (relating to the authorization of certain students to receive a high school diploma) expires September 1, 2023.

SECTION 5. Repealer: Section 28.02541(g) (relating to the expiration of this section providing for a diploma for certain students who entered ninth grade before the 2011-2012 school year), Education Code.

Repealer: Section 28.0258(l) (relating to the expiration of this section providing for a high school diploma awarded on the basis of individual graduation committee review), Education Code.

Repealer: Section 28.0259(e) (relating to the expiration of this section providing for school district reporting requirements for students graduating based on individual on individual graduation committee review process), Education Code.

SECTION 6. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.