BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 33

By: Zaffirini

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law does not ensure that a parent is properly informed regarding a proposed disciplinary placement of the parent's child. 

S.B. 33 requires a school district to provide the parent of a child who has been assigned to a disciplinary alternative education program with information about the student's right to access programs that assist the student in completing the coursework required for graduation. The bill requires the school principal or other appropriate administrator to prepare and maintain documentation regarding the conference required to be held with the student, parent, and appropriate school officials.

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

S.B. 33 amends the Education Code to require a school district to provide the parents of a student removed to a disciplinary alternative education program with written notice of the district's obligation to provide the student with an opportunity to complete coursework required for graduation. The bill requires the notice to include information regarding all methods available for completing the coursework and to state that the methods are available at no cost to the student. The bill requires a school principal or other appropriate administrator to prepare and maintain documentation regarding each conference held to discuss a student's removal from class and requires the documentation to indicate the date and time the conference was held; to identify each person who attended the conference by name and profession and each person who failed to attend the conference after being requested to attend, including the reason for the failure to attend, if known; and to state conference's outcome.

S.B. 33 makes its provisions 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.