SRC-TAG S.B. 1470 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1470 78R6927 ESH-DBy: West, Royce Education 4/9/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, there is a necessity to modify the high school equivalency program (HSEP) so that it can more effectively assess a student's knowledge. The HSEP funding requirement has proven to be a disincentive for numerous high schools and HSEP fails to ensure accountability because it lacks performance standards. As proposed, S.B. 1470 modifies the high school equivalency program operated by a school district or open-enrollment charter school. 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 29.087(d), Education Code, as added by Chapter 1514, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, to provide that a student is eligible to participate in a program authorized by this section if the student was ordered by a court under Article 45.054 (Authority to Employ Care Manager for Juvenile Case), Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by Chapter 1514, Acts of the 77th legislature, Regular Session, 2001, to meet certain requirements or if at least two school years have elapsed since the student first enrolled in ninth grade and the student has accumulated less than one half, rather than a quarter, of the credits required to graduate under the minimum graduation requirements of the district or school. SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 29.087(o), Education Code (regarding high school equivalency programs), as added by Chapter 1514, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.