Bill Text: TX HB1139 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to inclusion of a civics test in the graduation requirements for public high school students.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-02 - Referred to Public Education [HB1139 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB1139-Introduced.html
84R5153 KJE-D | ||
By: Fallon | H.B. No. 1139 |
|
||
|
||
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 28.0259 and [ |
||
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 28.0259 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 28.0259. CIVICS TEST. (a) The commissioner shall | ||
adopt rules requiring a student in the foundation high school | ||
program under Section 28.025 to be administered a civics test. A | ||
student may not receive a high school diploma until the student has | ||
performed satisfactorily on the civics test. | ||
(b) The civics test is composed of all or a portion 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.). | ||
(c) The commissioner by rule shall determine: | ||
(1) the length and format of the test; | ||
(2) the high school grade level or levels at which the | ||
test may be taken; and | ||
(3) the score that indicates satisfactory | ||
performance. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with students who | ||
enter the ninth grade during the 2015-2016 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, 2015. |