Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 8; Title 36; Title 37; Title 38; Title 40; Title 41; Title 49; Title 50; Title 54; Title 55; Title 62; Title 63 and Title 68.

This bill generally replaces the terms "general education development credential," "GED(R)," "high school equivalency test," "HiSET(R)," and variations of the terms wherever they appear in the code, with the term "high school equivalency credential." This bill also replaces any reference to GED(R) or HiSET(R) classes, coursework, testing, or services with the phrase "adult education programming to include preparation and testing toward obtaining a high school equivalency credential." ON FEBRUARY 27, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 255, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 revises present law provisions relative to the department of labor and workforce development being authorized to make recommendations relative to assessments that lead to the award of a high school equivalency credential. Such law requires the state board of education to review the recommendations of the department, and provides that any recommendation approved by the board must be considered a high school equivalency assessment and that the successful completion of such assessment must lead to the award of a high school equivalency credential. This amendment clarifies that the board is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate these provisions. This amendment also changes the effective date from upon becoming a law to July 1, 2023. ON MARCH 13, 2023, THE HOUSE SUBSTITUTED SENATE BILL 255 FOR HOUSE BILL 74, AND RESET SENATE BILL 255. ON MARCH 16, 2023, THE HOUSE FURTHER CONSIDERED SENATE BILL 255, AND PASSED SENATE BILL 255, AS AMENDED.