By Uresti H.B. No. 2097 76R7666 CAG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to requiring an application for admission to a public 1-3 institution of higher education as a requirement for graduation 1-4 from high school. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by 1-7 adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: 1-8 (d) The State Board of Education by rule shall require a 1-9 student, before the student's graduation and receipt of a diploma 1-10 or certificate of coursework completion, to apply to at least one 1-11 institution of higher education, as defined in Section 61.003, for 1-12 admission. 1-13 SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is 1-14 amended by adding Section 61.085 to read as follows: 1-15 Sec. 61.085. WAIVER OF CERTAIN APPLICATION FEE. (a) The 1-16 board shall adopt rules that permit each high school student in 1-17 this state to apply to one institution of higher education without 1-18 paying an application fee to permit the student to comply with 1-19 Section 28.025(d). 1-20 (b) The board, in cooperation with the commissioner of 1-21 education and each institution of higher education, shall adopt a 1-22 uniform method of reporting applications for admission to the 1-23 institution that would allow the determination of whether a student 1-24 has complied with Section 28.025(d). 2-1 SECTION 3. (a) The State Board of Education and the Texas 2-2 Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt the rules required 2-3 by Sections 28.025(d) and 61.085, Education Code, as added by this 2-4 Act, not later than January 1, 2000. 2-5 (b) The requirements of Section 28.025(d), Education Code, 2-6 as added by this Act, apply only to a student who receives a high 2-7 school diploma or certificate of coursework completion after the 2-8 2000 spring semester. 2-9 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-14 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-15 passage, and it is so enacted.