Senate Bill 426
By: Senators Harbin of the 16th, Summers of the 13th, Burns of the 23rd, Dickerson of the
21st, Hickman of the 4th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to general provisions relative to education, so as to require high school students
seeking a high school diploma and individuals seeking a state approved high school
equivalency (HSE) diploma to achieve a minimum score of 70 percent on the United States
Citizenship Civics Test for the purpose of being eligible to receive a high school diploma or
a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma; to provide for multiple attempts;
to provide for certification of scores; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for
applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
The General Assembly finds that as the United States of America commemorates and
celebrates its Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of its independence, it is appropriate
to recognize the words of President Ronald Regan, who said, "Freedom is never more than
one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream.
It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."
SECTION 2.
Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions relative to education, is amended by adding a new Code section to read
as follows:
<ins>"20-1-13.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'citizenship test' shall mean the United States
Citizenship Civics Test produced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services.
(b) On and after July 1, 2027, each local board of education and other public school
governing body shall require students in any of grades nine through 12, as a condition of
earning a high school diploma, to achieve a minimum score of 70 percent on the citizenship
test.
(c) On and after July 1, 2027, each individual seeking a state approved high school
equivalency (HSE) diploma shall, as a condition of earning such diploma, achieve a
minimum score of 70 percent on the citizenship test.
(d) Students and other individuals may take the citizenship test as many times as necessary
to earn the minimum required score.
(e) All local boards of education and other public school governing bodies and a state
approved high school equivalency (HSE) programs shall establish a process to certify that
a student or other individual has achieved the minimum required score on the citizenship
test in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Code section."
</ins> SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.