By: Goodwin, Talarico, Beckley, Capriglione, H.B. No. 1182
et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to personal financial literacy courses for high school
students in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.0021, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(b) Each school district and each open-enrollment charter
school that offers a high school program shall provide a [an
elective] course in personal financial literacy that meets the
requirements for [a one-half elective] credit under Section 28.025,
using materials approved by the State Board of Education. The
course may be offered as a distinct course in personal financial
literacy or as an elective course or existing course that includes
instruction in personal financial literacy sufficient to meet the
requirements for one-half credit under Section 28.025(b-1)(9). The
instruction in personal financial literacy must include
instruction on:
(1) completing the application for federal student aid
provided by the United States Department of Education;
(2) the financial consequences of failing to make
timely student loan payments;
(3) the effect of student loan debt on a person's
finances; and
(4) the circumstances in which student loans are
dischargeable in bankruptcy.
(c) In fulfilling the requirement to provide financial
literacy instruction under this section, a school district or
open-enrollment charter school may use an existing state, federal,
private, or nonprofit program that provides students without charge
the instruction described under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require
that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school
program under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students
successfully complete:
(1) four credits in English language arts under
Section 28.002(a)(1)(A), including one credit in English I, one
credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in
an advanced English course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
(2) three credits in mathematics under Section
28.002(a)(1)(B), including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in
geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course
authorized under Subsection (b-2);
(3) three credits in science under Section
28.002(a)(1)(C), including one credit in biology, one credit in any
advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2), and one
credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional
advanced science course authorized under Subsection (b-2);
(4) three credits in social studies under Section
28.002(a)(1)(D), including one credit in United States history, at
least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in
economics, and one credit in world geography or world history;
(5) except as provided under Subsections (b-12),
(b-13), and (b-14), two credits in the same language in a language
other than English under Section 28.002(a)(2)(A);
(6) four and one-half [five] elective credits;
(7) one credit in fine arts under Section
28.002(a)(2)(D); [and]
(8) except as provided by Subsection (b-11), one
credit in physical education under Section 28.002(a)(2)(C); and
(9) at least one-half credit in personal financial
literacy under Section 28.0021.
SECTION 3. Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as amended
by this Act, applies only to students entering the ninth grade
during the 2019-2020 school year or a later school year. For
students entering a grade above ninth grade during the 2019-2020
school year, Section 28.025(b-1), Education Code, as that section
existed before amendment by this Act, applies, and that section is
continued in effect for that purpose.
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, 2019.