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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing the Texas State Seal of Bilingualism and |
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Biliteracy for public high school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.028 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.028. TEXAS STATE SEAL OF BILINGUALISM AND |
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BILITERACY. (a) In this section, "seal" means the Texas State Seal |
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of Bilingualism and Biliteracy established under Subsection (b). |
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(b) The agency shall establish a seal to recognize high |
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school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in |
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comprehending, speaking, reading, and writing in both English and a |
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language other than English. |
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(c) The agency, in consultation with appropriate |
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stakeholders, shall: |
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(1) determine minimum requirements for earning the |
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seal, which: |
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(A) must be sufficiently rigorous to indicate to |
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an employer or postsecondary institution that a student who has |
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earned the seal is biliterate; |
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(B) may include completion of a project, |
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activity, or portfolio; and |
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(C) may not condition receipt of the seal on an |
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examination created for that purpose; and |
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(2) prepare and deliver to each school district an |
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insignia that can be affixed or stamped on the diploma of and adopt |
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a designation to be included on the transcript of a student who has |
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satisfied requirements for earning the seal. |
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(d) Each school district shall: |
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(1) maintain appropriate records to identify students |
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who have earned the seal; and |
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(2) for each student who has satisfied requirements |
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for earning the seal: |
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(A) affix the seal's insignia to the student's |
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diploma; and |
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(B) include in the student's transcript that the |
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student earned the seal. |
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(e) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |