SRC-JXG H.B. 772 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 772 76R12627 KKA-DBy: Davis, Yvonne (Nelson) Education 5/11/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, some school districts offer voluntary educational programs outside of regular school hours to help students make up missed instruction or to provide more personalized instruction. After the 1997-1998 school year, the Texas Education Agency general counsel issued an opinion prohibiting school districts from charging fees for any activities unless specifically authorized to do so in the Texas Education Code. H.B. 772 would authorize school districts to charge a fee for such voluntary educational programs to make up missed instruction, but provides that at least one option for making up missed instruction without paying a fee must be provided to students whose absences were due to extenuating circumstances. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 772 authorizes an independent school district to charge a fee for voluntary educational programs. 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 11.158(a), Education Code, to authorize the board of trustees of an independent school district to require payment of a reasonable fee for the costs associated with an educational program offered outside of regular school hours through which s student who was absent from class receives instruction voluntarily for the purpose of making up the missed instruction and meeting the level of attendance required under Section 25.092. SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.092(b), Education Code, to require the alternative ways to include at least one option that does not require a student to pay a fee authorized under Section 11.158(a)(15). SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000 school year. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.