HBA-MPM, MPM H.B. 1820 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1820
By: Olivo
Public Education
3/25/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEPs) were created by the
74th Texas Legislature. Current law limits the Texas Education Agency's
authority over DAEPs. Current law also exempts DAEPs from certain
curriculum requirements, teacher certification, special education, and
bilingual education standards.  H.B. 1820 requires DAEPs to meet the
standards set forth in Chapter 39 (Public School System Accountability
Standards), Education Code, and repeals the commissioner's authority to
adopt different standards for DAEPs.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 37.008(c), Education Code, to apply Chapter 37
(Discipline; Law and Order), Education Code, to each alternative education
program (program) provided under this section.  Deletes the exemption of an
off-campus program from a requirement imposed by this title, other than a
limitation on liability, a reporting requirement, or a requirement imposed
by this chapter or by Chapter 39 (Public School System Accountability),
Education Code. 

SECTION 2.  Repealer:  Section 37.008(m) (Alternative Education Programs),
Education Code, which requires the commissioner of education to adopt rules
necessary to administer the provisions of Chapter 39 for alternative
education programs.  Further states that academically, the mission of
alternative education programs shall be to enable students to perform at
grade level and that annually, the commissioner is required to define for
alternative education programs acceptable performance and performance
indicating a need for peer review, based principally on standards defined
by the commissioner that measure academic progress of students toward grade
level while attending an alternative education program. 

SECTION 3.  Makes this Act applicable beginning with the 1999-2000 school
year. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.