77R12438 KEL-D                           
         By Deshotel                                           H.B. No. 2775
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2775:
         By Rangel                                         C.S.H.B. No. 2775
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to an exemption for certain students from the requirements
 1-3     of the Texas Academic Skills Program.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 51.306, Education Code, is amended by
 1-6     amending Subsection (t) and adding Subsection (t-1) to read as
 1-7     follows:
 1-8           (t)  A student is exempt from this section if the student
 1-9     graduated from a public or an accredited private high school in
1-10     this state or outside this state at least 10 years before the date
1-11     of the student's enrollment at an institution of higher education.
1-12     The student may voluntarily take the test required of other
1-13     students by Subsection (b).  Unless the student's test results
1-14     indicate that developmental education is not necessary or the
1-15     student is otherwise exempt under this section, the institution
1-16     shall require the student to successfully complete developmental
1-17     courses or other developmental programs as described by Subsection
1-18     (f) but may not require the student on successful completion of
1-19     those courses or programs to take the test required by this
1-20     section.
1-21           (t-1)  An institution may exempt a non-degree-seeking or
1-22     non-certificate-seeking student who is not otherwise exempt under
1-23     this section and who will be 55 years of age or older on the first
1-24     class day of a term or semester from the testing requirements
 2-1     imposed by this section as a condition for enrollment at the
 2-2     institution [during that term or semester in a course].
 2-3           SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
 2-4     to a student who enrolls at a public institution of higher
 2-5     education for a semester or summer session that begins on or after
 2-6     the effective date of this Act.
 2-7           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-8     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-9     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-10     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-11     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.