By Reyna of Bexar                                     H.B. No. 1553
         77R6121 KKA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to supervision of public school students pending placement
 1-3     in an alternative education program.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 37.008(h), Education Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (h)  A school district may not place a student, other than a
 1-8     student suspended as provided under Section 37.005 or expelled as
 1-9     provided under Section 37.007, in an unsupervised setting as a
1-10     result of conduct for which a student may be placed in an
1-11     alternative education program.  A district that proposes to place a
1-12     student in an alternative  education program shall provide
1-13     supervision of the student during regular school hours until the
1-14     date on which the student is required to begin attendance in the
1-15     alternative education program.  The district may provide the
1-16     required supervision through in-school suspension or another
1-17     appropriate arrangement.
1-18           SECTION 2.  Section 37.011, Education Code, is amended by
1-19     adding Subsection (r) to read as follows:
1-20           (r)  A school district that expels a student who may be
1-21     required to attend a juvenile justice alternative education program
1-22     shall provide supervision of the student during regular school
1-23     hours until the date on which the student is required to begin
1-24     attendance in the juvenile justice alternative education program.
 2-1     The district may provide the required supervision through in-school
 2-2     suspension or another appropriate arrangement.
 2-3           SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
 2-4     school year.
 2-5           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-6     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-7     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-8     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-9     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.