By West H.J.R. No. 27 77R464 JSA-D A JOINT RESOLUTION 1-1 proposing a constitutional amendment to require a candidate for the 1-2 legislature to pass the basic skills examination required by law 1-3 for students entering public institutions of higher education. 1-4 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by 1-6 adding Section 7-a to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 7-a. (a) This section applies only if: 1-8 (1) on the last date provided by law for a person to 1-9 become a candidate in an election to the senate or house of 1-10 representatives, state law requires a student who enrolls as an 1-11 undergraduate student in a public institution of higher education, 1-12 other than a student exempted by law, to take an examination to 1-13 assess the student's basic academic skills or knowledge; and 1-14 (2) the student's performance on the examination may 1-15 require the student to participate in a noncredit course or program 1-16 in basic academic skills or knowledge or to complete other 1-17 requirements not applicable to all students. 1-18 (b) A person is not eligible to become a candidate for 1-19 election to the senate or house of representatives unless in the 1-20 preceding five years the person has taken the examination described 1-21 by Subsection (a) of this section and achieved a performance level 1-22 on the examination that would exempt a student from any applicable 1-23 noncredit course or program in basic academic skills or knowledge 1-24 or other requirements not applicable to all students. This 2-1 subsection does not apply to a person who previously qualified as a 2-2 candidate for election to the senate or house of representatives 2-3 under this subsection. Each public institution of higher education 2-4 shall permit a person who certifies that the person is seeking to 2-5 qualify as a candidate under this subsection to take the 2-6 examination described by Subsection (a) of this section at the 2-7 institution at the person's expense and have the institution 2-8 determine whether the person has achieved a performance level on 2-9 the examination that would exempt a student at the institution from 2-10 any applicable noncredit course or program in basic academic skills 2-11 or knowledge or other requirements not applicable to all students. 2-12 (c) This section takes effect January 1, 2002. This 2-13 subsection expires January 1, 2003. 2-14 SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be 2-15 submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2001. 2-16 The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the 2-17 proposition: "The constitutional amendment to require a candidate 2-18 for the Texas Legislature to pass the basic skills examination 2-19 required by law for students entering public institutions of higher 2-20 education."