SRC-ARR S.B. 1472 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1472
By: Bivins
Education
6/30/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law prohibits a person from taking a high school
equivalency exam unless the person is 17 years of age (unless the person is
16 years of age and under the custody of the state). This disconnection
between the Job Corps eligibility age and the GED testing age has
apparently caused some individuals to drop out of the Job Corps program.
S.B. 1472 will authorize students who are 16 and enrolled in the Job Corps
program to sit for the GED exam after they have taken the requisite
preparatory courses. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 1472 authorizes a student at certain age to take the high
school equivalency examination and regulates the age of compulsory
attendance in public school. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 7.111(a), Education Code, to authorize a person
who does not have a high school diploma to take the high school equivalency
examination in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of
Education if the person is 16 years of age or older and is enrolled in a
Job Corps training program under the Job Training Partnership Act and its
subsequent amendments. Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.086(a), Education Code, to provide that a
child is exempt from the requirements of compulsory school attendance if
the child is at least 16 years of age and is enrolled in a Job Corps
training program under the Job Training Partnership Act. Makes conforming
changes. 

SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
school year. 

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
                      Effective date: upon passage.