By:  Goolsby                                          H.B. No. 1106
       73R3881 CAE-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to an alternative graduation certificate for a student who
    1-3  has not performed satisfactorily on the secondary exit level
    1-4  assessment instrument.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Subchapter O, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
    1-7  amended by adding Section 21.5531 to read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 21.5531.  ALTERNATIVE GRADUATION CERTIFICATE.
    1-9  (a)  Notwithstanding Section 21.553 of this code, a school district
   1-10  shall issue a high school diploma to a student who has completed
   1-11  all requirements for graduation but has not performed
   1-12  satisfactorily on all sections of the secondary exit level
   1-13  assessment instrument.  The diploma shall state that it is an
   1-14  "alternative graduation certificate."
   1-15        (b)  A diploma issued under this section is the equivalent of
   1-16  a high school diploma and must be treated as a diploma for all
   1-17  purposes.
   1-18        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-19  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-20  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-21  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-22  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-23  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-24  passage, and it is so enacted.