H.B. No. 1050




AN ACT

relating to school attendance of a child placed in substitute care.           
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 264, Family Code, is 
amended by adding Section 264.113 to read as follows:
	Sec. 264.113.  RETURNING CHILD TO SCHOOL.  (a)  If the 
department takes possession of a child under Chapter 262 during the 
school year, the department shall ensure that the child returns to 
school not later than the third school day after the date an order 
is rendered providing for possession of the child by the 
department, unless the child has a physical or mental condition of a 
temporary and remediable nature that makes the child's attendance 
infeasible.
	(b)  If a child has a physical or mental condition of a 
temporary and remediable nature that makes the child's attendance 
in school infeasible, the department shall notify the school in 
writing that the child is unable to attend school.  If the child's 
physical or mental condition improves so that the child's 
attendance in school is feasible, the department shall ensure that 
the child immediately returns to school.
	SECTION 2.  Section 25.002, Education Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
	(g)  A school district shall accept a child for enrollment in 
a public school without the documentation required by Subsection 
(a) if the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services has 
taken possession of the child under Chapter 262, Family Code.  The 
Department of Protective and Regulatory Services shall ensure that 
the documentation required by Subsection (a) is furnished to the 
school district not later than the 30th day after the date the child 
is enrolled in the school.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 1050 was passed by the House on May 5, 
2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.B. No. 1050 was passed by the Senate on May 
28, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Secretary of the Senate    



APPROVED:  _____________________                                            
 
                   Date                                                      




 
          _____________________                                          
 
                 Governor