1-1  By:  Harris                                            S.B. No. 944
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed March 6, 1995; March 7, 1995, read
    1-3  first time and referred to Committee on Education; March 29, 1995,
    1-4  reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the
    1-5  following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0; March 29, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 944                   By:  Harris
    1-7                         A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-8                                AN ACT
    1-9  relating to an exemption from certain testing and remedial
   1-10  coursework for a student with dyslexia or a related disorder who
   1-11  enters a public institution of higher education.
   1-12        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-13        SECTION 1.  Section 51.306, Education Code, is amended by
   1-14  adding Subsection (q) to read as follows:
   1-15        (q)  A student who has been diagnosed as having dyslexia or a
   1-16  related disorder, as those terms are defined by Section 21.924(a),
   1-17  by a qualified professional whose license or credentials are
   1-18  appropriate to diagnose the disorder as determined by the board and
   1-19  who completes the remedial program prescribed by the institution
   1-20  may be required to retake the test once but may not be referred to
   1-21  an additional remedial course or other remedial program or
   1-22  precluded from enrolling in an upper division course because of the
   1-23  student's performance on the test.
   1-24        SECTION 2.  Section 51.3061, Education Code, is amended by
   1-25  adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
   1-26        (f)  A student who has been diagnosed as having dyslexia or a
   1-27  related disorder, as those terms are defined by Section 21.924(a),
   1-28  by a qualified professional whose license or credentials are
   1-29  appropriate to diagnose the disorder as determined by the
   1-30  coordinating board and who completes the remedial program
   1-31  prescribed by the institution may be required to retake the test
   1-32  once but may not be referred to an additional remedial course or
   1-33  other remedial program or precluded from enrolling in an upper
   1-34  division course because of the student's performance on the test.
   1-35        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-36  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-37  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-38  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-39  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-40  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   1-41  passage, and it is so enacted.
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