HBA-SEB H.B. 226 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 226
By: West, George
Public Education
4/15/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, personal finance education is not a part of the required high
school curriculum.  Students may benefit from an understanding of the
principles of personal finance, such as applying for loans or credit cards,
managing debt, and planning for retirement.  H.B. 226 requires the State
Board of Education to make personal finance education a condition for high
school graduation and a condition for the accreditation of school
districts. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Education in SECTION 1
(Section 28.002, Education Code) and SECTION 2 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 28.002(d), Education Code, to require the State
Board of Education (the board) to include elements of personal finance
education as a condition for high school graduation.  Requires the board to
specify that each district is to provide instruction in personal finance at
one or more high school grade levels, specified by board rule, as a
condition for accreditation. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the board to adopt rules in accordance with this
section by March 1, 2000, to be put into effect beginning with the
2000-2001 school year.  Requires the board's rules to allow a transition
period during the 2000-2001 school year in order to keep the personal
finance education requirement from placing an undue hardship on high school
students in their junior or senior year. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
            Effective date:  upon passage.