C.S.H.B. 2831 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 2831
By: Zedler
Public Education
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, parents are full partners with educators in the
education of their children.  When a problem arises, parents often are
unaware of this law and what procedures to follow in order to bring the
problem to the school or school districts' attention. C.S.H.B. 2831
amends Chapter 26 of the Education Code to mandate that each school
district include in their student handbook a statement of the district's
grievance procedure and a copy of Chapter 26 or summary of the provisions
of Chapter 26 of the Education Code (parental rights). 
  

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

C.S.H.B. 2831 requires each school district to include in the district's
student handbook a statement of the district's grievance procedure under
Section 26.011 and a copy or summary the provisions of Chapter 26,
Education Code relating to parental rights.  

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. 
 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2831 modifies the original version by deleting provisions that
entitle a parent to review all teaching materials before they are used in
the classroom. C.S.H.B. 2831 modifies the original version by deleting
provisions that if a child has been the victim of school violence, the
child's parent is entitled to full disciplinary information concerning
each perpetrator with the perpetrator's name redacted.  

C.S.H.B. 2831 modifies the original version by deleting provisions
relating to a school district employee obtaining  written parental consent
before the employee may use any curriculum material that has sexual or
violent content or before an employee may use a questionnaire to gather
information from the student that relates to the student's family or
friends or is of a personal or sexual nature.
 
C.S.H.B. 2831 modifies the original version by deleting provisions
relating to a complaint to an educator. C.S.H.B. 2831 modifies the
original version by deleting provisions relating to authorizing a parent
to enforce a parental right by asserting a claim against an educator or
school district in district court.