By:  Shelley                                          S.B. No. 1468
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to performance of students on the secondary exit level
    1-2  assessment instrument and the issuance of diplomas.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Subchapter O, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
    1-5  amended by adding Section 21.5531 to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 21.5531.  NOTATION OF PASSING EXIT LEVEL INSTRUMENT;
    1-7  ISSUANCE OF DIPLOMAS TO OTHER STUDENTS.  (a)  The diploma of a
    1-8  student who has performed satisfactorily on all sections of the
    1-9  secondary exit level assessment instrument must contain a
   1-10  statement, or have a statement affixed, that the student has
   1-11  performed satisfactorily on that instrument.
   1-12        (b)  Notwithstanding Section 21.553 of this code, a school
   1-13  district shall issue a high school diploma to a student who has
   1-14  completed all requirements for graduation but has not performed
   1-15  satisfactorily on all sections of the secondary exit level
   1-16  assessment instrument.  The diploma of such a student may not
   1-17  contain or have affixed the statement described by Subsection (a)
   1-18  of this section.
   1-19        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-20  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-21  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-22  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-23  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-1  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-2  passage, and it is so enacted.