By:  Bivins, Truan                                     S.B. No. 387
                                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.
 1-7     (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a school
 1-8     district 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
1-25     under this section.
 2-1           SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 28.025, Education Code,
 2-2     is amended to read as follows:
 2-3           (a)  The State Board of Education by rule shall determine
 2-4     curriculum requirements for the minimum, recommended, and advanced
 2-5     high school programs that are consistent with the required
 2-6     curriculum under Section 28.002.  A person may receive a diploma if
 2-7     the person is eligible for a diploma under Section 28.0251.  In
 2-8     other cases, a [A] student may graduate and receive a diploma only
 2-9     if:
2-10                 (1)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
2-11     requirements identified by the board and complies with Section
2-12     39.025(a); or
2-13                 (2)  the student successfully completes an
2-14     individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
2-15           SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
2-16     school year.
2-17           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-18     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-19     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-20     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-21     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.