BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                              S.B. 776

                                                                                                                                By: Van de Putte

                                                                                                                                 Public Education

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, the Texas Education Code does not allow the Texas Education Agency to administer the general equivalency diploma (GED) examination to Seaborne ChalleNGe participants, as the adjutant general's department is not recognized as having the authority to offer the GED. As proposed, S.B. 776 allows the adjutant general's department to administer the GED to students 16 years of age or older who are enrolled in the adjutant general's department's Seaborne ChalleNGe Corps. 

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

SB 776 amends the Education Code by requiring the State Board of Education to provide for the administration of high school equivalency examinations, including administration by the adjutant general's department for students enrolled in the adjutant general's department's Seaborne ChalleNGe Corps. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This Act applies beginning with the 2005 - 2006 school year. 

 

This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.