Senate Bill 2626

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-35-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972,

TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES TO ADMINISTER THE GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (GED) TESTING PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-35-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-35-9. The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges is authorized to develop and establish general educational development preparatory classes in secondary schools and community/junior colleges and to provide financial assistance from the state for the specific purpose of preparing persons sixteen (16) years of age and older, not enrolled in school or required to be enrolled in school by the Compulsory School Attendance Law (Section 37-13-91) to successfully write the general educational development test and earn a certificate of equivalency which is equivalent to the high school diploma.

The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges is authorized to administer the General Educational Development (GED) Testing Program in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the GED Testing Service of the American Council on Education. Such administration shall include the approval of rules and regulations for the administration, scoring, issuing of transcripts and awarding of diplomas for the GED Testing Program. The State Board for Community and Junior Colleges is hereby authorized to receive income and to set fees for the scoring of test, the issuing of transcripts and the issuing of diplomas to adequately administer the GED Testing Program.

This program shall be administered by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges through the secondary schools and community/junior colleges as the local needs indicate and are practical.

Full and general supervision over the program by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges shall insure that duplication of effort by secondary schools and community/junior colleges will be eliminated; however, nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a school district from implementing a program of general educational development (GED) preparatory instruction * * *.

Adult students for general educational development preparatory classes may be accepted by schools and junior colleges from any area of the state provided students are bona fide residents of Mississippi.

Instructors, counselors and supervisors utilized in the teaching of general educational development preparatory classes shall be licensed in the appropriate area as required by the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.