BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1645

By: Lozano

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that not all Texas public school districts that have policies which allow students to earn a letter for certain achievements have provisions that allow students to earn a letter for participation in a Special Olympics event. C.S.H.B. 1645 seeks to allow a qualifying Special Olympics athlete to earn a letter.

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. 1645 amends the Education Code to require a public school district that allows high school students to earn a letter for academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievements to allow a high school student in the district to earn a letter on the basis of the student's participation in a Special Olympics event. 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. 1645 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.  Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.093 to read as follows: Sec. 33.093.  RECOGNITION OF PARTICIPATION IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS.  If a school district allows high school students to earn a letter for academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievements, the district shall adopt a policy that allows high school students in the district to earn a letter on the basis of a student's participation in a Special Olympics event.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 33.093 to read as follows: Sec. 33.093.  RECOGNITION OF PARTICIPATION IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS.  If a school district allows high school students to earn a letter for academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievements, the district must allow high school students in the district to earn a letter on the basis of a student's participation in a Special Olympics event.
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.