78R3667 CAS-D

By:  Howard                                                       H.B. No. 841



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the public education grant program.                               
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 29, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 29.2011 to read as follows:
	Sec. 29.2011.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "parent" 
includes a guardian or custodian.
	SECTION 2.  Section 29.203(d), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(d)  A school district chosen by a student's parent under 
Section 29.201 is entitled to [accept or] reject the application 
for the student to attend school in that district only if 95 percent 
or more of the available positions for the grade level for which the 
student is applying are filled.  The district [but] may not use 
criteria that discriminate on the basis of a student's race, 
ethnicity, academic achievement, athletic abilities, language 
proficiency, sex, or socioeconomic status.  A school district that 
has more acceptable applicants for attendance under this subchapter 
than available positions must give priority to students at risk of 
dropping out of school as defined by Section 29.081 and must fill 
the available positions by lottery.  However, to achieve continuity 
in education, a school district may give preference over at-risk 
students to enrolled students and to the siblings of enrolled 
students residing in the same household or other children residing 
in the same household as enrolled students for the convenience of 
parents[, guardians, or custodians] of those children.
	SECTION 3.  Section 29.204(b), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(b)  Not later than February 1 of each year, a school 
district shall notify in writing the parent of each student in the 
district assigned to attend a campus described by Section 29.202 
that the student is eligible for a public education grant.  Not 
later than  May 1 of each year, a district shall notify in writing 
the parent of each student who is registered for the following 
school year to attend kindergarten at a district campus described 
by Section 29.202 that the student is eligible for a public 
education grant.  The notice under this subsection must contain a 
clear, concise explanation of the public education grant program 
and of the manner in which the parent may obtain further information 
about the program.
	SECTION 4.  Sections 29.203(c) and 42.4101, Education Code, 
are repealed.    
	SECTION 5.  This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 
school year.       
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.