BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1559

By: Parker

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties recognize a need to increase the awareness of the availability of local programs and services for homeless students. While some local programs and charitable organizations that assist homeless students have historically tried to increase awareness in the student population through setting up informational tables at local schools, the parties contend that there should be a more effective method of increasing awareness with a greater likelihood of coming to the attention of homeless students. H.B. 1559 seeks to provide for such a method.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1559 amends the Education Code to require each school that maintains a website to post on the website information regarding local programs and services, including charitable programs and services, available to assist homeless students and to make a good faith effort to compile the information and post it in a format and style that is easily understandable by students or parents, as appropriate based on the grade levels the school offers. The bill authorizes a representative of a local program or service available to assist homeless students to request that information concerning the program or service be posted on a school's website but does not require the school to post such information. The bill authorizes the school to determine the information that is posted on the school's website. The bill establishes that a school district is not liable for any harm to a student that results in connection with a local program or service referred to on the website of a district school as provided by the bill's provisions. The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2015–2016 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.