By Carona S.B. No. 233 75R3078 ESH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a student disciplinary hearing in which a student 1-3 accuses another student of misconduct. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 37.0091 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 37.0091. RIGHTS OF STUDENT MAKING ACCUSATION OF 1-8 MISCONDUCT. (a) If the policy adopted by a school district 1-9 provides that a student who accuses another student of conduct for 1-10 which a student may be placed in an alternative education program 1-11 under Section 37.006 or expelled under Section 37.007 may appear 1-12 before the person conducting the hearing concerning the alleged 1-13 conduct: 1-14 (1) the school district must notify the parent or 1-15 guardian of the student making the accusation of the time and place 1-16 of each hearing under Section 37.009 concerning the alleged 1-17 conduct; and 1-18 (2) at the hearing, the student making the accusation 1-19 is entitled, while the student is appearing, to be accompanied by 1-20 the student's parent or guardian or another adult who can provide 1-21 guidance to the student and who is not an employee of the school 1-22 district. 1-23 (b) A parent, guardian, or other adult accompanying a 1-24 student under Subsection (a)(2) is not entitled to be present 2-1 during the remainder of the hearing. 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.