BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1959

By: Noble

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Peace officers put themselves in harm's way in their communities on a daily basis. Peace officers with school-aged children should be assured that their child is in a safe environment when attending school. H.B. 1959 seeks to ensure this is the case by providing for a peace officer who is a parent of or a person standing in parental relation to a student to transfer that student to another school district or campus of their choosing.

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. 1959 amends the Education Code to require the board of trustees of a public school district or the board's designee, on request of a peace officer who is a parent of or a person standing in parental relation to a student, to transfer the student to another district campus or to another district under an agreement prescribed by statutory provisions governing the transfer of students between districts or counties. In addition, the bill provides the following:

· a transfer must be to the campus or district, as applicable, selected by the peace officer making the request; and

· a district is not required to provide transportation to a student who transfers to another campus or district under the bill's provisions.

H.B. 1959 applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.