80R336 CAE-F

By: Eissler H.B. No. 314

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the classroom placement of multiple birth siblings in public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 25, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 25.043 to read as follows:

Sec. 25.043. CLASSROOM PLACEMENT OF MULTIPLE BIRTH SIBLINGS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Multiple birth sibling" means a twin, triplet, quadruplet, or other sibling resulting from a multiple birth.

(2) "Parent" includes a parent standing in parental relation.

(b) The parent of multiple birth siblings who are assigned to the same grade level and school may request that the school place the siblings in the same classroom or in separate classrooms.

(c) A parent who makes a classroom placement request under Subsection (b) must make the request:

(1) not later than the 14th day after the first day of the school year; or

(2) if the multiple birth siblings enroll in school after the first day of the school year, not later than the 14th day after the date of the siblings' enrollment.

(d) A school shall provide the multiple birth siblings with the classroom placement requested by the parent unless the school district board of trustees determines under Subsection (e) that an alternative classroom placement is appropriate for the siblings.

(e) At the end of the first grading period following the multiple birth siblings' enrollment in the school, if the principal of the school, in consultation with the teacher of each classroom in which the multiple birth siblings are placed, determines that the requested classroom placement is disruptive to the school, the principal may request that the school district board of trustees determine the appropriate classroom placement for the siblings.

(f) The school may recommend to a parent the appropriate classroom placement for the multiple birth siblings and may provide professional educational advice to assist the parent with the decision regarding appropriate classroom placement.

SECTION 2. Section 25.043, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.

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, 2007.