HBA-MPM H.B. 1088 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1088
By: Grusendorf
Public Education
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

A common problem in public schools is a false alarm in the form of a fire
alarm, bomb threat, and other false reports that interrupt school
operations and cause considerable anxiety among parents, students, and
school personnel.  For example, in May 1999 the Corpus Christi Independent
School District reported nearly two dozen false threats of bombs or
violence at area schools, resulting in the evacuation of one middle school.
House Bill 1088 requires a student who submits a false report to be placed
in an alternative education program, and provides that a student may be
expelled for this conduct. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1088 amends the Education Code to require a student to be
removed from class and placed in an alternative education program if the
student engages in conduct involving a public school that contains the
elements of the offense of a false alarm, terroristic threat, or false
report of a bombing, fire, offense, or other emergency.  The bill also
authorizes a student to be expelled for engaging in this conduct. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with the
2001-2002 school year.