SRC-ARR C.S.S.B. 1472 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1472 76R9545 BDH-DBy: Bivins Education 4/6/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.S.B. 1472 would 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 proposed, C.S.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. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.086(a), Education Code, to make a nonsubstantive change.