Committee approves bill to treat GED as equivalent to high school diploma for employment

Representative Carol Dolby presented House Bill 1091 as a narrowly tailored clarification of existing law. "All this bill is is a definition bill stating that if an individual receives a GED or an equivalent thereto, that for employment purposes, that shall be treated the same as a high school diploma," Dolby said. She told the committee the intent was to make explicit what many had assumed was already the law and offered to answer questions.

With no opponents signed up to speak, Dolby asked for a motion. A member moved to pass the bill and the chair called for a voice vote; the bill passed by voice vote. The committee recorded the measure as passed and moved on to the rest of the agenda.

The bill is procedural in nature and does not change benefits, eligibility for scholarships, or education requirements beyond clarifying the status of a GED for employment purposes.