BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 669
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Developed and delivered by the American Council on Education, the General Educational Development (GED) test is a high school equivalency examination that is administered in Texas by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Currently, the GED test must be taken at an official testing center. This places a burden on working Texans who may find it difficult to find time to travel to and take the test at a testing center.
As proposed, S.B. 669 amends the Education Code by requiring the State Board of Education to provide for the administration of high school equivalency examinations through online testing. The bill requires that the rules provide a procedure for verifying the identity of the person taking the examination.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Education in SECTION 1 (Section 7.111, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 7.111, Education Code, by adding Subsection (c), as follows:
(c) Requires the State Board of Education by rule to provide for the administration of high school equivalency examinations through online testing. Requires that the rules provide a procedure for verifying the identity of the person taking the examination.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.