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;".