SRC-JRN H.B. 1606 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1606
By: Hartnett (Harris)
Education
5-14-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, a school district may file against a truant student only in the
precinct where the person lives or where the person's school is located.
This practice creates a backlog of cases in some precincts that serve
several schools while some adjacent precincts may have few truancy cases.
This bill facilitates the timely adjudication of truancy cases by allowing
more courts to be used in handling truancy cases. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1606 facilitates the timely adjudication of truancy
cases by allowing more courts to be used in handling truancy cases. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 54.021(c), (d), and (f), Family Code, to
require the justice or municipal court to enter an order appropriate to
the nature of the conduct on a finding that a person has engaged in
conduct described by Section 51.03(b)(2) or conduct that violates Section
25.094, Education Code.  Sets forth the provision that the court has
jurisdiction to enter an order that includes one or more of certain
provisions requiring the person to attend special programs determined to
be in the best interests of the person, including forms of rehabilitation
and training other than an alcohol and drug abuse program, on a finding
that a person has engaged in truant conduct described in Section
51.03(b)(2) or other inappropriate conduct.  Authorizes a school
attendance officer to refer a person alleged to have engaged in conduct
described in Section 51.03(b)(2) of this code to a justice court in the
county, rather than the precinct, where the person resides or where the
person's school is located or to a municipal court of the municipality
where the person resides or where the person's school is located, if
certain conditions apply.  Makes a conforming change.   

SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.093(c), Education Code, to require the
attendance officer to file a complaint against the parent in the county
court, in a justice court in the county in which the parent resides or in
which the school is located, or in a municipal court of the municipality
in which the parent resides or in which the school is located. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 25.094(b), Education Code, to authorize the
prosecution of an offense under this section in a municipal court in the
municipality in which the child resides or in which the school is located. 

SECTION 4. (a) Effective date: September 1, 1997.

 (b) and (c) Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.