85R7656 KJE-D

By: Swanson H.B. No. 1195

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to inclusion of a civics test in the graduation requirements for public high school students.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 28.025(c), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) A person may receive a diploma if the person is eligible for a diploma under Section 28.0251. In other cases, a student may graduate and receive a diploma only if:

(1) the student successfully completes the curriculum requirements identified by the State Board of Education under Subsection (a) and complies with Sections 28.028 and [Section] 39.025; or

(2) the student successfully completes an individualized education program developed under Section 29.005.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.028 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.028. CIVICS TEST. (a) Each school district shall administer a civics test to a student in the foundation high school program under Section 28.025. A student may not receive a high school diploma until the student has performed satisfactorily on the civics test.

(b) The civics test must consist of all of the questions on the civics test administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services as part of the naturalization process under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.). The questions must be presented in a multiple choice format.

(c) To perform satisfactorily on the civics test, a student must answer at least 70 percent of the questions correctly.

(d) Each school district shall:

(1) establish a time or times during the school year at which the civics test will be administered; and

(2) provide an option to take the test online at any time and from any location.

(e) A school district may not:

(1) restrict the high school grade level at which a student may take the civics test;

(2) limit the number of attempts a student may make to perform satisfactorily on the test; or

(3) charge a student a fee to take the test.

SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with students who enter the ninth grade during the 2017-2018 school year.

SECTION 4. 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, 2017.