SRC-MKV, S.B. 108 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 108
By: Lucio
Education
6/12/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

S.B. 108 is an attempt to strike a balance between ensuring local control
of schools and ensuring some kind of stability in the school year for
parents, members of the public, and the community at large.  In addition,
by giving districts until 2002-2003 for the bill's implementation, schools
are assured ample time to plan their local calendar. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 25C, Education Code, by adding Section 25.0811,
as follows: 

Sec. 25.0811.  FIRST DAY OF INSTRUCTION.  (a) Prohibits a school district
from beginning instruction for students for a school year before the week
in which August 21 falls. Provides that, for the purposes of this section,
Sunday is considered the first day of the week. 

(b) Requires the district to perform carry out certain actions if a school
district intends to apply under Section 7.056 for a waiver of the
prohibition prescribed by Subsection (a). 

(c) Requires the application for a waiver of the prohibition prescribed by
Subsection (a) to include a summary of the opinions expressed at the public
hearing held under Subsection (b)(2), including any consensus of opinion
expressed concerning the date of the first day of instruction for students.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.084(a), Education Code, to authorize a school
district to modify the date of the first day of instruction of the school
year under Section 25.0811 for a school that was operating year-round for
the 2000-2001 school year. 

SECTION 3.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2002-2003
school year. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.