By Seaman                                             H.B. No. 1724
         77R894 BDH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a pilot project for administering the Texas Academic
 1-3     Skills Program Test to high school students.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 28.027 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 28.027.  TEXAS ACADEMIC SKILLS PROGRAM TEST; PILOT
 1-8     PROJECT. (a)  The commissioner, in cooperation with the
 1-9     commissioner of higher education, shall implement a pilot project
1-10     under which the Texas Academic Skills Program Test adopted under
1-11     Section 51.306 is administered to each student enrolled at the 11th
1-12     or 12th grade level at no cost to the student.
1-13           (b)  The commissioner shall select not more than five school
1-14     districts to participate in the project based on applications
1-15     submitted by the districts.  The commissioner may not require a
1-16     district to participate in the project.
1-17           (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a
1-18     school district participating in the project may:
1-19                 (1)  require each student enrolled in the school
1-20     district at the 11th or 12th grade level to take the Texas Academic
1-21     Skills Program Test;
1-22                 (2)  use state and local funds to pay any costs
1-23     associated with administering the test; and
1-24                 (3)  administer the test during a regular school day.
 2-1           (d)  This section expires August 31, 2011.
 2-2           SECTION 2. The commissioner of education shall implement the
 2-3     pilot project required by Section 28.027, Education Code, as added
 2-4     by this Act, beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.
 2-5           SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a
 2-6     vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-7     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-8     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-9     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.