HBA-JRA H.B. 3136 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3136
By: Brown, Fred
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not prohibit a school district from requiring a transfer
student from a nonaccredited private school to perform satisfactorily on an
assessment instrument provided by the district as a condition of
transferring the student's credit.  H.B. 3136 prohibits a school district
from imposing requirements on a transfer student from a nonaccredited
private school for transferring course credit that it does not impose on a
transfer student from an accredited private school, provided the transfer
student demonstrates to the school district proficiency in the subject
matter. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, by adding
Section 28.026, as follows: 

Sec. 28.026.  LIMITING ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT AS A CONDITION FOR COURSE
CREDIT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.  (a)  Prohibits a school district from
requiring a student who transfers to a public school in the district from a
nonaccredited private school that includes in its course a study of good
citizenship, including a parochial or home school, to perform
satisfactorily on an assessment instrument provided by the district as a
condition of transferring credit the student has received for a course
satisfactorily completed at the private school if: 

_the student provides the district with scores on a nationally recognized
assessment instrument that demonstrates proficiency in the subject matter
and a transcript and portfolio describing the course content, and  

_a student who transfers to a public school in the district from an
accredited private school that includes in its course a study of good
citizenship is not required to perform satisfactorily on such an assessment
instrument as a condition of transferring credit for a course. 

(b)  Defines "accredited private school" and "nonaccredited private school"
in this section. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective to the 1999-2000
school year. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.