H.B. 2061 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2061 By: Grusendorf Public Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Under current law, if disciplinary action is being taken against a student, when such a student transfers from a charter school to a public school the charter school is not required to send a copy of a student's order of disciplinary action to the public school. This can result in a public school's administration being unaware of some student transferee's disciplinary problems. However, in similar transfers between public schools, a copy of the order of disciplinary action is required. PURPOSE House Bill 2061 requires charter schools to send a transferring student's order of disciplinary action to the enrolling school, just as public schools are required to do. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 2061 amends the Education Code to require the governing body of a district or school taking disciplinary action against a student to provide a copy of the order of disciplinary action to another school or district if the student subsequently enrolls in another district or school. The bill authorizes the district or school in which the student enrolls to continue the disciplinary action under the terms of the order or allow the student to attend regular classes without completing the period of disciplinary action. The bill defines disciplinary action as a suspension, expulsion, placement in an alternative education program, or other limitation in enrollment eligibility of a student by a district or school. The bill defines a district or school to include an independent school district, a home-rule school district, a campus or campus program charter holder, or an open-enrollment charter school. The bill repeals Section 37.008(j), Education Code, relating to students placed in alternative education programs enrolling in another school district. This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.