BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1843
	By: Campbell
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	6/21/2017
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a test administered before one is allowed to enter the United States military. It determines which military occupational specialties are open to a prospective enlistee based upon how he or she scored on the ASVAB. This bill ensures that all Texas students in grades 10 through 12 will be afforded the opportunity to take the ASVAB in a high school during the normal school day. There is no cost to the student or the schools as the armed forces covers all costs of producing, administering, and grading the exams. Students are under no obligation to enlist, nor even to speak with a recruiter. The ASVAB is optional and is an opportunity for a student to better learn about his or her cognitive strengths and potential opportunities thereby available. (Original Author's / Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

S.B. 1843 amends current law relating to providing an opportunity for public high school students in grades 10 through 12 to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test or an alternative vocational aptitude test.

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 Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Section 29.9015, as follows:

Sec. 29.9015. ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY TEST. (a) Requires each school district (district) and open-enrollment charter school (school), except as provided by Subsection (d) or (e), to provide students in grades 10 through 12 an opportunity each school year to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test (ASVAB) and consult with a military recruiter.

(b) Requires that the ASVAB be scheduled during normal school hours and, to optimize student participation, at a time that limits conflicts with extracurricular activities.

(c) Requires each district and school to provide each student in grades 10 through 12 and the student�s parent or person standing in parental relation to the student a notice of the date, time, and location of the scheduled administration of the ASVAB.

(d) Authorizes a district or school to elect not to provide the ASVAB only if the district or school provides an alternative test that:

(1) assesses a student�s aptitude for success in a career field other than a career field that requires postsecondary education;

(2) is free to administer;

(3) requires minimal training and support of district or school faculty and staff to administer the test; and

(4) provides the student with a professional interpretation of the test results that allows the student to explore occupations that are consistent with the student�s interests and skills and to develop strategies to attain the student�s career goals.

(e) Provides that this subsection applies only to a district, school, or high school that, before September 1, 2017, entered into a contract under which a vocational aptitude test that does not comply with the requirements for an alternative test under Subsection (d) is provided to students in grades 10 through 12. Authorizes a district, school, or high school subject to this subsection to elect not to provide the ASVAB for the term of the contract. Provides that on the expiration of the contract term, the exemption provided by this subsection is not applicable.

(f) Requires the Texas Education Agency, not later than August 1 of each year, to publish a list of districts and schools that elected under Subsection (d) or (e) not to provide the ASVAB during the previous school year.�

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017. �