SRC-JRN S.B. 717 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 717 By: Duncan Education 3-30-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, there is no clear statutory authority allowing school campuses to remain open after school hours for recreational purposes and tutoring. Concerns regarding a school's potential liability may be one cause for some schools not remaining open after regular hours. This bill authorizes the board of trustees of an independent school district to adopt rules to keep school campuses open for student recreational activities and tutoring of students after school hours. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 717 authorizes the board of trustees of an independent school district to adopt rules to keep school campuses open for student recreational activities and tutoring of students after school hours. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the board of trustees of an independent school district in SECTION 1 (Section 11.164, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 11D, Education Code, by adding Section 11.164, as follows: Sec. 11.164. ACCESS TO SCHOOL CAMPUSES. Authorizes the board of trustees of an independent school district to adopt rules to keep school campuses, including school libraries, open for student recreational activities and tutoring of students after school. Provides that a professional employee or volunteer serving in a program for which a school campus is kept open under this section is immune from liability to the same extent as a school district's professional employees or volunteers, as applicable. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1997-1998 school year. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.