BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 539

By: VanDeaver

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that the requirement that a student has been enrolled in a Texas public school in the preceding school year in order to be eligible to enroll full-time in courses provided through the state virtual school network is problematic for military families due to the interstate redeployments these families face. C.S.H.B. 539 seeks to expand access to the state virtual school network for students in military families.

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

C.S.H.B. 539 amends the Education Code to make a student who is a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who has been deployed or transferred to Texas and was enrolled in a publicly funded school outside of Texas in the preceding school year eligible to enroll full-time in courses provided through the state virtual school network. The bill applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 539 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Section 30A.002(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) A student is eligible to enroll full-time in courses provided through the state virtual school network only if the student: (1) was enrolled in a public school in this state in the preceding school year; or (2) [has been placed in substitute care in this state,] regardless of whether the student was enrolled in a public school in this state in the preceding school year: (A) has been placed in substitute care in this state; or (B) is a dependent of a member of the United States military who has been deployed or transferred to, or otherwise currently resides in, this state.	SECTION 1. Section 30A.002(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) A student is eligible to enroll full-time in courses provided through the state virtual school network only if the student: (1) was enrolled in a public school in this state in the preceding school year; [or] (2) is a dependent of a member of the United States military who has been deployed or transferred to this state and was enrolled in a publicly funded school outside of this state in the preceding school year; or (3) has been placed in substitute care in this state, regardless of whether the student was enrolled in a public school in this state in the preceding school year.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.