S.B. 617 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 617 By: Shapleigh Public Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Education Code authorizes a parent to designate a child care facility, instead of the child's residence, as the regular location for the purpose of obtaining transportation to and from school. However, childcare for many children is provided by their grandparents. S.B. 617 authorizes a parent to designate the residence of a grandparent as the regular location for transportation to and from school and prohibits the commissioner of education from reducing the transportation allotment to which a district or county is entitled if the transportation to the grandparent's residence is within the district or county approved routes. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, institution, or agency. ANALYSIS S.B. 617 amends the Education Code to authorize a county or school district board to allow a parent to designate a child-care facility or a grandparent's residence, instead of the child's residence, as the location from which the child accesses the school bus. 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.