BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 463
85R5821 PAM-F	By: Seliger; Nichols
	Education
	4/10/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

During the 84th Legislative Session, S.B. 149 passed to allow students who are juniors or seniors and fail to pass one or two end-of-course exams required for graduation to receive consideration by an individual graduation committee (IGC). The IGC requires the student to complete additional remediation and completion of a project or portfolio in the area in which the student failed the exam. The IGC considers, when determining whether the student will graduate, factors such as the student's grades in relevant coursework, overall attendance rate, score on the Texas Success Initiative, and completion of dual credit and courses toward a professional certification, as well as the student's preparedness for college or career.

The provisions of S.B. 149 expire on September 1, 2017. This bill removes the sunset date and makes the provisions permanent.

As proposed, S.B. 463 amends current law relating to the use of individual graduation committees to satisfy certain public high school graduation requirements.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the commissioner of education is modified in SECTION 6 (Sections 28.0258 and 28.0259, Education Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 12.104(b-2), Education Code, to delete existing text providing that this subsection expires September 1, 2017.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 28.025(c-6), Education Code, to delete existing text providing that this subsection expires September 1, 2017.

SECTION 3. Effective September 1, 2018, amends Section 28.0258(e), Education Code, as follows:

(e) Deletes existing Subdivision (2) including requirements provided by the transition plan adopted by the commissioner of education under Section 28.025(h) (relating to a transition plan for high school graduation requirements), among the curriculum requirements to be eligible to graduate high school. Makes conforming changes.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 39.025(a-2), Education Code, as added by Chapter 5 (S.B. 149), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, to delete existing text providing that this subsection expires September 1, 2017.

SECTION 5. Amends Section 39.025(a-3), Education Code, to delete existing text providing that this subsection expires September 1, 2017.

SECTION 6. Repealers: Sections 28.0258(1) (relating to the expiration of that section on September 1, 2017) and 28.0259(e) (relating to the expiration of that section on September 1, 2018), Education Code.

SECTION 7. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.