HBA-MPM S.B. 1472 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1472
By: Bivins
Public Education
5/6/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law prohibits a person from taking a high school equivalency exam
unless the person is 17 years of age, unless the person is16 years of age
and under the custody of the state.  This disparity between the Job Corps
eligibility age and the GED testing age may cause some individuals to drop
out of the Job Corps program.  S.B. 1472 authorizes students who are 16 and
enrolled in the Job Corps program to sit for the GED exam after they have
taken the requisite preparatory courses. 

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 Section 7.111(a), Education Code, to authorize a person
who does not have a high school diploma to take the high school equivalency
examination (examination) in accordance with rules adopted by the State
Board of Education if the person is 16 years of age or older and is
enrolled in a Job Corps training program under 29 U.S.C., Section 1501 et
seq. (Job Training Partnership Act), and its subsequent amendments.  Makes
conforming changes.  

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 25.086(a), Education Code, to provide that a
child is exempt from the requirements of compulsory school attendance if
the child is at least 16 years of age and is attending a course of
instruction to prepare for the examination and is enrolled in a Job Corps
training program under 29 U.S.C., Section 1501 et seq., and its subsequent
amendments. Makes a conforming change.  

SECTION 3.  Makes this Act applicable beginning with the 1999-2000 school
year. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.