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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to standards for the operation of school district |
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disciplinary alternative education programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 37.008, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (a-1), (a-2), and (a-3) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The agency shall adopt minimum standards for the |
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operation of disciplinary alternative education programs, |
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including standards relating to: |
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(1) student/teacher ratios; |
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(2) student health and safety; |
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(3) reporting of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of |
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students; |
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(4) training for teachers in behavior management and |
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safety procedures; and |
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(5) planning for a student's transition from a |
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disciplinary alternative education program to a regular campus. |
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(a-2) Not later than December 15, 2008, the agency shall |
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deliver a report to the legislature that provides the estimated |
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costs to the agency of enforcing the standards adopted under |
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Subsection (a-1), including the estimated cost of: |
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(1) on-site monitoring to enforce the standards; and |
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(2) alternative methods of monitoring compliance with |
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the standards. |
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(a-3) Subsection (a-2) and this subsection expire January |
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15, 2009. |
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SECTION 2. Standards for the operation of school district |
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disciplinary alternative education programs adopted under Section |
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37.008(a-1), Education Code, as added by this Act, apply beginning |
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with the 2007-2008 school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |