BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3643

By: Aycock

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, more than 119,000 active duty military personnel live in Texas.  An additional 73,000 Texans serve in the National Guard and Reserves.  By 2011, Texas can expect approximately 8,155 additional military personnel to be moving into the state because of ongoing Base Realignment and Closure. Current law provides for free public prekindergarten to the children of active duty members of the U.S. armed forces, including the state military forces and reserve components of the armed forces.  Free public prekindergarten is also extended to the children of military personnel injured or killed while serving on active duty. 

H.B. 3643 clarifies the intent of the legislature which was to include a stepchild in the definition of a child of an active military personnel and stepparent in the definition of parent.

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

H.B. 3643 amends the Education Code to specify, under provisions governing free prekindergarten for certain children, that "child" includes a stepchild and that "parent" includes a stepparent. The bill makes its provision applicable beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.