SRC-JEC, MSY S.B. 16 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 16
By: Staples
Education
6/16/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires school districts to spend compensatory education
funds on instructional services for at-risk students in order to address
disparities in assessment performance and high school completion rates
between at-risk students and their peers.  S.B. 16 allows a school
district to use compensatory education funds for mentoring programs that
aim to further the goal of assisting at-risk youth. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education
in SECTION 1 (Section 29.089, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding
Section 29.089, as follows: 

Sec.  29.089.  MENTORING SERVICES PROGRAM. (a)  Authorizes each school
district to provide a mentoring services program to students at risk of
dropping out of school, as defined by Section 29.081. 

(b)  Requires the commissioner of education, in consultation with the
governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
representatives, by rule to determine accountability standards under this
section for a school district providing a mentoring services program using
funds allocated under Section 42.152. 

(c)  Requires the board of trustees of the district to obtain the consent
of a student's parent or guardian before allowing the student to
participate in the program. 

(d)  Authorizes the board of trustees of the district to arrange for any
public or private community-based organization to come to the district's
schools and implement the program. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 42.152, Education Code, by adding Subsection
(c-1) to authorize funds allocated under Section 42.152 to be used to fund
a district's mentoring services program under Section 29.089,
notwithstanding Subsection (c). 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.