BILL ANALYSIS
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, truancy laws are inapplicable to persons who voluntary enroll or attend school after their 18th birthday. Every year, Texas schools lose money due to the increasing dropout rate. Making truancy laws applicable to such persons should lower dropout rates for schools throughout Texas.
This bill would require persons who voluntarily enroll in school or voluntarily attend school after their 18th birthday to attend school until the end of the school year and would make certain truancy laws applicable to such students, but would not establish sanctions for the parents of these students.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The bill provides that a person who voluntarily enrolls in school or voluntarily attends school after the person's 18th birthday shall attend school each school day for the entire period the program of instruction is offered, and shall attend until the end of the school year. The bill makes Section 25.094, Education Code (FAILURE TO ATTEND SCHOOL), applicable to such person, but further provides that Section 25.093, Education Code (PARENT CONTRIBUTING TO NONATTENDANCE) and Section 25.095, Education Code (WARNING NOTICES) do not apply to the parent of such person.
The bill deletes certain language in current law that would be inconsistent with the provisions of this bill.
The Act would apply with the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.