79R1590 KKA-D

By:  Jones of Dallas                                              H.B. No. 668



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of juvenile justice alternative 
education programs for free textbooks for use in the programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 31.001, Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	Sec. 31.001.  FREE TEXTBOOKS.  (a)  Textbooks selected for 
use in the public schools shall be furnished without cost to the 
students attending those schools.
	(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a 
juvenile justice alternative education program operating under 
Section 37.011 is entitled to receive textbooks for student use 
without cost as if the program were a school district or 
open-enrollment charter school.  The State Board of Education shall 
adopt rules as necessary to administer this subsection.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  In accordance with Section 31.001(b), 
Education Code, as added by this Act, and rules adopted by the State 
Board of Education, beginning with the 2005–2006 school year, 
textbooks shall be furnished without cost to juvenile justice 
alternative education programs.
	(b)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules as 
required by Section 31.001(b), Education Code, as added by this 
Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  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, 2005.