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.