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


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 16
78R9962 CAS-DBy: Staples
Education
3/26/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


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.  C.S.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

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 29C, 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 a district that provides a mentoring services program using
funds allocated under Section 42.152 to meet standards adopted by the
governor under the mentoring initiative established by the governor. 

(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.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

The relating clause differs from the original by specifying that the
mentoring services programs authorized by this Act are for at-risk
students. 

SECTION 1:  Differs from the original by adding language specifying that
the mentoring services program authorized by the original is to be for
students at risk of dropping out of school.  Adds language specifying that
a mentoring services program using funds allocated under Section 42.152
must meet certain standards.