SRC-TNM S.B. 1154 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1154
By: Harris
Education
3-31-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law requires school districts to adopt a student code of
conduct, but does not allocate the authority to any specific individual
within the district.  Recently, a court case challenging this area of the
Education Code questioned whether or not the elected school board could
delegate this authority to a superintendent or principal.  S.B. 1154
requires the student code of conduct for a public school district to be
adopted by the elected board of trustees, and any changes to that code to
be approved by the board. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1154 outlines provisions regarding adopting and amending
a student code of conduct in public schools. 

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 Section 37.001, Education Code, to require the board of
trustees of an independent school district, rather than each school
district, with the advice of its district-level committee and with the
juvenile board of each county in which the district is located, to adopt a
student code of conduct for the district. Requires any change or amendment
to be approved by the board of trustees once the student code of conduct
is promulgated.  Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.