By Goolsby H.B. No. 28 74R630 ESH-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 Z, Chapter 21, Education Code, is 1-7 amended by adding Section 21.940 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 21.940. ALTERNATIVE GRADUATION CERTIFICATE. 1-9 (a) Notwithstanding Section 35.025, a school district shall issue 1-10 a high school diploma to a student who has completed all 1-11 requirements for graduation but has not performed satisfactorily on 1-12 all sections of the secondary exit-level assessment instrument. 1-13 The diploma shall state that it is an "alternative graduation 1-14 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.