By Maxey H.B. No. 2725
75R9052 JSA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the use of standardized test scores in making
1-3 admissions determinations and in awarding scholarships and
1-4 financial aid at public institutions of higher education.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Section 51.924, Education Code, is amended to
1-7 read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 51.924. PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING STANDARDIZED
1-9 ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS IN ADMISSIONS [USED FOR ADMISSION
1-10 STANDARDS]. An institution of higher education may not require an
1-11 applicant for admission to the institution or to a degree program,
1-12 school, or college within the institution to report, submit, or
1-13 disclose the applicant's test score or other result from the
1-14 administration of a standardized assessment, achievement, or
1-15 admissions test, including any of the tests commonly known as the
1-16 PSAT, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or LSAT. [Each company or
1-17 organization that sponsors a college admissions testing program
1-18 shall annually report to the Central Education Agency the
1-19 performance in the testing program of students in this state and
1-20 the program's state and national average standard score results.
1-21 The company or organization shall report the performance of
1-22 students by school district on the request of the Central Education
1-23 Agency. In its determination of the admission of a student, an
1-24 institution of higher education may not use the student's results
2-1 on an assessment instrument administered by an organization that
2-2 fails to comply with this section.]
2-3 SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
2-4 amended by adding Section 56.004 to read as follows:
2-5 Sec. 56.004. PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING STANDARDIZED TEST
2-6 RESULTS IN FINANCIAL AID DETERMINATIONS. An institution of higher
2-7 education, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or any
2-8 person acting on behalf of an institution of higher education or
2-9 the coordinating board relating to the award of a scholarship or
2-10 other financial aid to a student or applicant for financial aid may
2-11 not require the student or applicant to report, submit, or disclose
2-12 the student's or applicant's test score or other result from the
2-13 administration of a standardized assessment, achievement, or
2-14 admissions test, including any of the tests commonly known as the
2-15 PSAT, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or LSAT.
2-16 SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with admissions or
2-17 awards of financial aid for the 1998 fall semester.
2-18 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.