BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1224

By: Reynolds

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

While the deliberate breach of a computer system is potentially a serious crime, public schools may not be allowed to expel a student who has breached a school district's computer system. C.S.H.B. 1224 seeks to expand a school's authority to expel a student.    

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

C.S.H.B. 1224 amends the Education Code to authorize the expulsion of a student who engages in conduct that contains the elements of the offense of breach of computer security if the conduct involves accessing a computer, computer network, or computer system owned by or operated on behalf of a school district and the student knowingly alters, damages, or deletes school district property or information or commits a breach of any other computer, computer network, or computer system.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1224 differs from the original by including as a condition for the expulsion of a student who engages in conduct that contains the elements of the offense of breach of computer security that the student knowingly alters, damages, or deletes school district property or information or commits a breach of any other computer, computer network, or computer system, whereas the original does not contain that condition for such an offense.