2023S0221-1 02/27/23
 
  By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1429
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of standardized examinations by a school of
  nursing or educational program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 301, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 301.1571 to read as follows:
         Sec. 301.1571.  USE OF STANDARDIZED EXAMINATIONS. (a) The
  board shall adopt rules related to the use by a school of nursing or
  educational program offered in this state of a standardized
  examination prepared by a private entity. The rules must prohibit
  the use of a standardized examination as a graduation requirement
  or to deny students an affidavit of graduation. The rules may
  authorize the use of a standardized examination only to:
               (1)  familiarize students with computerized testing;
               (2)  assess potential or enrolled students for purposes
  of:
                     (A)  serving as one component of admissions
  criteria;
                     (B)  evaluating a student's strengths and
  weaknesses for remediation purposes; or
                     (C)  identifying students experiencing academic
  difficulties who require early remediation; or
               (3)  assess the effectiveness of the school of nursing
  or educational program by providing:
                     (A)  trend data on student performance;
                     (B)  a comparison of student performance with
  nationwide averages;
                     (C)  feedback of student knowledge of program
  content;
                     (D)  data to monitor the effectiveness of specific
  course, level, and program curriculum revisions;
                     (E)  a measure of student mastery of content; or
                     (F)  an evaluation of the effectiveness of
  curriculum content for revision purposes.
         (b)  The rules adopted under Subsection (a) must provide that
  a score on a standardized examination may not account for more than
  10 percent of a course grade for a course in a school of nursing or
  educational program.
         (c)  A school of nursing or educational program that
  determines a student is in need of academic remediation on the basis
  of a standardized examination may not require the student to attend
  any course offered by the examination provider.
         (d)  Failure to comply with the rules adopted under
  Subsection (a) may subject the school of nursing or educational
  program to disciplinary action, including removal of the school's
  or program's approval status, as determined by the board. 
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Texas Board of Nursing shall adopt the rules
  required by Section 301.1571, Occupations Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.