79R7772 BDH-D

By:  Uresti                                                       H.B. No. 2859



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to student codes of conduct and school discipline.                   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 37.001, Education Code, is amended by 
adding Subsections (b) and (e) and amending Subsection (d) to read 
as follows:
	(b)  The commissioner by rule shall adopt standards for 
student conduct and enforcement of student codes of conduct, 
including standards related to due process.  A school district's 
student code of conduct and enforcement of the code of conduct must 
conform to standards adopted under this subsection.
	(d)  Each school year, a school district shall:                         
		(1)  provide parents notice of and information 
regarding the student code of conduct;
		(2)  require parents and students to review the code of 
conduct during a meeting conducted by a school representative; and
		(3)  require that parents and students sign an 
agreement of understanding after the code of conduct and its 
consequences have been reviewed in a meeting under Subdivision (2).
	(e)  Each campus in a school district shall review the 
student code of conduct with campus administrators and teachers at 
a meeting held before the first day of instruction each school year.  
The review may not be considered required staff development for 
purposes of Section 21.451.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 37.0051 to read as follows:
	Sec. 37.0051.  CAMPUS COMMUNITY SERVICE.  (a)  Before 
suspending a student or assigning a student to detention for 
engaging in disruptive behavior, other than behavior described by 
Section 37.006 or 37.007, the principal or other appropriate 
administrator shall consider assigning the student to campus 
community service as provided by this section.
	(b)  A student assigned to campus community service must:               
		(1)  perform the service under the supervision of a 
teacher other than the teacher of a class in which the student is 
enrolled, during the teacher's conference period or other time 
period convenient for the teacher; and
		(2)  perform campus community service duties as 
required by the teacher and approved by the principal or other 
appropriate administrator.
	(c)  If a student fails to complete a campus community 
service assignment, the campus may suspend the student, require a 
meeting between the student and a campus administrator, or 
otherwise appropriately discipline the student.
	(d)  The commissioner by rule may determine activities and 
tasks that are not appropriate for campus community service 
assignments.
	SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2005-2006 
school year.       
	SECTION 4.  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.