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.