By Turner of Harris                             H.B. No. 2330

      75R4500 KKA-F                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to requirements applicable to alternative education

 1-3     programs.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Sections 37.008(a) and (c), Education Code, are

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (a)  Each school district shall provide an alternative

 1-8     education program that:

 1-9                 (1)  is provided in a setting other than a student's

1-10     regular classroom;

1-11                 (2)  is located on or off of a regular school campus;

1-12                 (3)  provides for the students who are assigned to the

1-13     alternative education program to be separated from students who are

1-14     not assigned to the program;

1-15                 (4)  focuses on [English language arts, mathematics,

1-16     science, history, and] self-discipline;

1-17                 (5)  instructs students in the curriculum required

1-18     under Section 28.002;

1-19                 (6)  provides for students' educational and behavioral

1-20     needs; and

1-21                 (7) [(6)]  provides supervision and counseling.

1-22           (c)  An off-campus alternative education program is not

1-23     subject to a requirement imposed by this title, other than a

1-24     limitation on liability, a reporting requirement, or a requirement

 2-1     imposed by this chapter or by Chapter 21, 22, or 39.

 2-2           SECTION 2.  This Act  applies beginning with the 1997-1998

 2-3     school year.

 2-4           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-5     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-6     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-7     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-8     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-9     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-10     passage, and it is so enacted.