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.