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. 1-42 * * * * *