BILL ANALYSIS
By: Shapleigh
Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Tens of thousands of students of military families from other states and overseas will relocate to Texas over the next several years due to the transfer of active duty service members. The children of soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom are faced with a set of special challenges, whether they are adjusting to a new school in a new community or having one or both parents stationed abroad in a war zone. School districts could better afford counseling services to assist children with these special challenges if the allotment provided to the districts for that purpose is increased.
SB 961 increases the allotment provided to a school district for each student who has transferred to a campus in the district because a parent or guardian is on active duty as a member of the armed services of the United States or the state military forces.
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
SB 961 amends Section 42.152, Education Code, by adding Subsections (s), (s-1), (s-2), and (s-3), as follows:
(s) Entitles a school district, in addition to the allotment provided under Subsection (a), to an annual allotment equal to $650 for each student in average daily attendance who has a parent or guardian who is serving on active duty in a combat zone as a member of the armed forces of the United States; and for each student in average daily attendance who:
(A) has a parent or guardian serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States; and
(B) has transferred to a campus in the district during the school year as a result of a change in residence because of an action taken under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. Section 2687).
(s-1) Authorizes a school district, notwithstanding any other provision of this section, to use funds allotted to the district under Subsection (s) only to provide supplemental programs and services described by Subsection (c) for students described by Subsection (s) who are enrolled in the district.
(s-2) States that the amount appropriated for allotments under Subsection (s) may not exceed $9.9 million in a school year. If the total amount of allotments to which districts are entitled under Subsection (s) for a school year exceeds the amount appropriated for allotments under that subsection, the commissioner shall reduce each district's allotment under that subsection proportionately.
(s-3) Subsections (s), (s-1), (s-2), and this subsection expire September 1, 2012.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.