S.B. No. 1843
 
 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1843 passed the Senate on
  May 4, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1843 passed the House on
  May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor