85R20774 SRS-F     By: Blanco, Tinderholt, et al. H.B. No. 2302     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2302:     By:  Gutierrez C.S.H.B. No. 2302       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to providing an opportunity for public high school   students in grades 10 through 12 to take the Armed Services   Vocational Aptitude Battery test or an alternative vocational   aptitude test.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 29.9015 to read as follows:          Sec. 29.9015.  ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY   TEST. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (d) or (e), each school   year each school district and open-enrollment charter school shall   provide students in grades 10 through 12 an opportunity to take the   Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test and consult with a   military recruiter.          (b)  The test under Subsection (a) must be scheduled:                (1)  during normal school hours; and                 (2)  to optimize student participation, at a time that   limits conflicts with extracurricular activities.          (c)  Each school district and open-enrollment charter school   shall provide each student in grades 10 through 12 and the student's   parent or person standing in parental relation to the student a   notice of the date, time, and location of the scheduled   administration of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery   test.          (d)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may   elect not to provide the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery   test only if the district or school provides an alternative test   that:                 (1)  assesses a student's aptitude for success in a   career field other than a career field that requires postsecondary   education;                (2)  is free to administer;                (3)  requires minimal training and support of district   or school faculty and staff to administer the test; and                (4)  provides the student with a professional   interpretation of the test results that allows the student to:                      (A)  explore occupations that are consistent with   the student's interests and skills; and                      (B)  develop strategies to attain the student's   career goals.          (e)  This subsection applies only to a school district,   open-enrollment charter school, or high school that, before   September 1, 2017, entered into a contract under which a vocational   aptitude test that does not comply with the requirements for an   alternative test under Subsection (d) is provided to students in   grades 10 through 12. A school district, open-enrollment charter   school, or high school subject to this subsection may elect not to   provide the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test for the   term of the contract. On the expiration of the contract term, the   exemption provided by this subsection is not applicable.          (f)  Not later than August 1 of each year, the agency shall   publish a list of school districts and open-enrollment charter   schools that elected under Subsection (d) or (e) not to provide the   Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test during the previous   school year.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018   school year.          SECTION 3.  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.