JLM H.B. 940 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


PUBLIC EDUCATION
H.B. 940
By: Wohlgemuth
5-6-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

A child who has been absent from school without an excuse for 10 or more
days, or parts of days, within a six-month period or three or more days,
or parts of days, within a four-week period without parental consent is
guilty of delinquent conduct under Section 51.03(b)(2), Family Code.
Parents of children found in violation of this section of the Family Code
may be found guilty of thwarting compulsory attendance laws and fined.
The last rewrite of the Texas Education Code required warning notices be
sent to a parent when a child had missed five days without an excuse in a
six month period.  Notice, however, was not required for nearing a
violation of the fourweek period. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this bill is to clarify and require warning notices be sent
to a child's parent when the child is near violation of either provision
of Section 51.03(b)(2), Family Code. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 25.095(a) of the Education Code by adding a
requirement for a   school district to notify a student's parent or
guardian in writing if the student has   been absent without an excuse
twice during any part of the day within a four  week period. This Act adds
subsection (b) revising the required information on   the notice. 

SECTION 2. Effective Date.

SECTION 3. Emergency Clause.