BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 1270

By: Smithee

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties note that some students want to visit a military recruitment center in order to be better informed when considering the option of joining the armed services. The parties contend that a school absence for this purpose should be excused in the same manner that absences for similar purposes are excused. H.B. 1270 seeks to address this issue and allow for such an excused absence.

 

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. 1270 amends the Education Code to include as a purpose for which a public school district may excuse a high school student from attending school during the student's junior or senior year visiting a military recruitment center for a branch of the U.S. armed services to determine the student's interest in enlisting in a branch of the armed services. 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.