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By:  King, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Estes)                        H.B. No. 944
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 14, 2003; 
April 22, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Education; May 22, 2003, reported adversely, with favorable 
Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; 
May 22, 2003, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 944                                    By:  Van de Putte


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the admission to public institutions of higher 
education of students with nontraditional secondary educations.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 51.9241 to read as follows:
	Sec. 51.9241.  ADMISSION OF STUDENT WITH NONTRADITIONAL 
SECONDARY EDUCATION.  (a)  In this section:
		(1)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning 
assigned by Section 61.003.
		(2)  "Nontraditional secondary education" means a 
course of study at the secondary school level in a nonaccredited 
private school setting, including a home school.
	(b)  Because the State of Texas considers successful 
completion of a nontraditional secondary education to be equivalent 
to graduation from a public high school, an institution of higher 
education must treat an applicant for admission to the institution 
as an undergraduate student who presents evidence that the person 
has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary education 
according to the same general standards as other applicants for 
undergraduate admission who have graduated from a public high 
school.
	(c)  An institution of higher education may not require an 
applicant for admission to the institution as an undergraduate 
student who presents evidence that the person has successfully 
completed a nontraditional secondary education to:
		(1)  obtain or submit evidence that the person has 
obtained a general education development certificate, certificate 
of high school equivalency, or other credentials equivalent to a 
public high school degree; or
		(2)  take an examination or comply with any other 
application or admission requirement not generally applicable to 
other applicants for undergraduate admission to the institution.
	SECTION 2.   This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to undergraduate admissions to an institution of 
higher education for a term or semester that begins on or after that 
date.  Undergraduate admissions for a term or semester that begins 
before the effective date are covered by the law in effect 
immediately before that date, and the former law is continued in 
effect for that purpose.



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