BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 692

By: White

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted with concern that homeless students tend to be disciplined at a disproportionate rate and that out‑of‑school suspensions for homeless students create more instability for these vulnerable students. H.B. 692 seeks to address this issue by authorizing certain public school employees to identify alternatives to out‑of‑school suspension for these students.  

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 692 amends the Education Code to establish that a student who is homeless as defined by federal law may not be placed in out-of-school suspension. The bill authorizes a campus behavior coordinator to coordinate with the public school district's homeless education liaison to identify appropriate alternatives to out-of-school suspension for a student who is homeless. The bill applies beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.