SRC-JRN C.S.S.B. 1356 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1356 By: West Education 4-3-97 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST Currently, Texas law is limited concerning requirements established for the reporting of information by the commissioner of education. Because of this limitation, the current Education Code may be unclear as to the authority it gives the commissioner to gather certain information for reports. This bill clarifies the authority of the commissioner of education for gathering certain data. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1356 clarifies the authority of the commissioner of education for gathering certain data. 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 Chapter 37A, Education Code, by adding Section 37.020, as follows: Sec. 37.020. REPORTS RELATING TO EXPULSIONS AND ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM PLACEMENTS. Requires each school district to annually report certain information to the commissioner of education (commissioner) in a manner directed by the commissioner. Requires the report to include information for each placement of a student in an alternative education program under Section 37.008 to include certain information identifying certain characteristics of students, information indicating the circumstances of placement for each student, and information indicating the number of days the student was assigned to the program. Requires the report to the commissioner to include information for which each expulsion occurred under Section 37.007, to include the identifying of certain characteristics of the student, indicating types of conduct on which the expulsion was based, reporting the number of days the student was expelled, and reporting certain information indicating the placement of students. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1997-1998 school year. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends Section 37.020, to provide a new heading. Redesignates proposed Sections 37.020(a)-(c) to Sec 37.020(1) to establish provisions regarding the placement of students in an alternative education program under Section 37.008, Education Code. Requires information to be reported regarding conduct that permitted, rather than authorized, placement in an alternative education program. Redesignates proposed Sections 37.020(d)(g) to Section 37.020(2), to establish provisions regarding the expulsion of students under Section 37.007. Requires information indicating conduct, other than conduct described by Paragraph (iii), and persistent misbehavior, rather than misconduct, to be reported. Requires information indicating if a student was placed in a juvenile justice alternative education program under Section 37.011 to be reported. Requires information indicating whether a student was placed in a juvenile justice or other alternative education program to be reported. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies, rather than takes effect, beginning with the 1997-1998 school year. Amendment 1. Page 2, line 16, replace "required under Section 37.007;" with "authorized under Section 37.007;".