By Janek                                               H.B. No. 807
         77R2191 BDH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to high school diplomas for certain veterans.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Section 28.0251 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 28.0251.  HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOR CERTAIN VETERANS. (a)
 1-7     Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a school district
 1-8     may issue a high school diploma to a person who:
 1-9                 (1)  is an honorably discharged member of the armed
1-10     forces of the United States;
1-11                 (2)  was scheduled to graduate from high school after
1-12     1940 and before 1951; and
1-13                 (3)  left high school before graduation to serve in
1-14     World War II.
1-15           (b)  A school district may issue a diploma under this
1-16     section:
1-17                 (1)  to a person eligible under Subsection (a) who
1-18     holds a high school equivalency certificate; or
1-19                 (2)  posthumously to a person who, if the person were
1-20     living, would be eligible under Subsection (a).
1-21           (c)  The commissioner by rule shall adopt a form for a
1-22     diploma application to be used by a veteran or a person acting on
1-23     behalf of a deceased veteran under this section.  The commissioner
1-24     shall specify acceptable evidence of eligibility for a diploma
 2-1     under this section.
 2-2           SECTION 2. Section 28.025(a), Education Code, is amended to
 2-3     read as follows:
 2-4           (a)  The State Board of Education by rule shall determine
 2-5     curriculum requirements for the minimum, recommended, and advanced
 2-6     high school programs that are consistent with the required
 2-7     curriculum under Section 28.002.  A person may receive a diploma if
 2-8     the person is eligible for a diploma under Section 28.0251. In
 2-9     other cases, a [A] student may graduate and receive a diploma only
2-10     if:
2-11                 (1)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
2-12     requirements identified by the board and complies with Section
2-13     39.025(a); or
2-14                 (2)  the student successfully completes an
2-15     individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
2-16           SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
2-17     school year.
2-18           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-19     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-20     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-21     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-22     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.