By Bernsen S.B. No. 213
77R1501 CAS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the compulsory school attendance age and to the age of
1-3 children for whom public school kindergarten must be provided.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 25.085(b) and (c), Education Code, are
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (b) Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, a child
1-8 who is at least five [six] years of age on August 1, or who is
1-9 younger than five [six] years of age on August 1 and has previously
1-10 been enrolled in prekindergarten [first grade], and who has not yet
1-11 reached the child's 18th birthday shall attend school.
1-12 (c) On enrollment in prekindergarten [or kindergarten], a
1-13 child shall attend school.
1-14 SECTION 2. Section 29.151, Education Code, is amended to read
1-15 as follows:
1-16 Sec. 29.151. FREE KINDERGARTEN. The board of trustees of
1-17 each school district shall establish and maintain one or more
1-18 kindergartens for the training of children residing in the district
1-19 who are at least five years of age on August [September] 1 [of the
1-20 school year].
1-21 SECTION 3. (a) This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
1-22 school year.
1-23 (b) This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote
1-24 of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided
2-1 by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does
2-2 not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes
2-3 effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative
2-4 session.