1-1     By:  Bivins                                            S.B. No. 387
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed January 25, 2001; January 29, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
 1-4     February 8, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas
 1-5     7, Nays 0; February 8, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to high school diplomas for certain veterans.
 1-9           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
1-11     amended by adding Section 28.0251 to read as follows:
1-12           Sec. 28.0251.  HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.
1-13     (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a school
1-14     district may issue a high school diploma to a person who:
1-15                 (1)  is an honorably discharged member of the armed
1-16     forces of the United States;
1-17                 (2)  was scheduled to graduate from high school after
1-18     1940 and before 1951; and
1-19                 (3)  left high school before graduation to serve in
1-20     World War II.
1-21           (b)  A school district may issue a diploma under this
1-22     section:
1-23                 (1)  to a person eligible under Subsection (a) who
1-24     holds a high school equivalency certificate; or
1-25                 (2)  posthumously to a person who, if the person were
1-26     living, would be eligible under Subsection (a).
1-27           (c)  The commissioner by rule shall adopt a form for a
1-28     diploma application to be used by a veteran or a person acting on
1-29     behalf of a deceased veteran under this section.  The commissioner
1-30     shall specify acceptable evidence of eligibility for a diploma
1-31     under this section.
1-32           SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 28.025, Education Code,
1-33     is amended to read as follows:
1-34           (a)  The State Board of Education by rule shall determine
1-35     curriculum requirements for the minimum, recommended, and advanced
1-36     high school programs that are consistent with the required
1-37     curriculum under Section 28.002.  A person may receive a diploma if
1-38     the person is eligible for a diploma under Section 28.0251.  In
1-39     other cases, a [A] student may graduate and receive a diploma only
1-40     if:
1-41                 (1)  the student successfully completes the curriculum
1-42     requirements identified by the board and complies with Section
1-43     39.025(a); or
1-44                 (2)  the student successfully completes an
1-45     individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.
1-46           SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
1-47     school year.
1-48           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-49     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-50     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-51     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-52     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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