SRC-AMY S.B. 1101 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1101
78R3284 KKA-FBy: Fraser
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
4/11/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The dependents of military personnel often experience frequent moves
during their educational careers.  Difficulty with transfer of records and
credits, and repetitive tests, can add to the frustration of a transfer.
Currently, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is authorized, but not
required, to negotiate reciprocity agreements governing the terms of
school transfers with other states.  Such reciprocity agreements would
facilitate the transfer of military families and dependents.  As proposed,
S.B. 1101 requires TEA to pursue reciprocity agreements governing the
terms of transfers with other states.  This bill also requires such an
agreement to address allowing a student to fulfill exit-level requirements
through comparable instruments administered in other states. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 25.005, Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 25.005.  RECIPROCITY AGREEMENTS REGARDING MILITARY PERSONNEL AND
DEPENDENTS.  (a) Requires, rather than authorizes, the Texas Education
Agency (TEA) to pursue reciprocity agreements with other states governing
the terms of transfers of military personnel and their dependents to and
from the public schools of this state. 

(b) Includes in the list of requirements, that a reciprocity agreement
address procedures for permitting a student to satisfy the requirements of
Section 39.025 (Exit Level Performance Required) through successful
performance on comparable exit-level assessment instruments administered
in another state. Makes nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2.  Requires TEA to report the results of its efforts to enter
into reciprocity agreements to certain elected officials, not later than
January 1, 2004. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.