BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 585

By: West

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that students who participate in after-school programs achieve numerous positive outcomes. S.B. 585 seeks to promote patriotism and civic involvement by providing certain youth membership organizations the opportunity to speak with students about these pursuits.

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

S.B. 585 amends the Education Code to require the principal of a public school campus, at the beginning of each school year, to provide representatives of a patriotic society, defined by the bill as a youth membership organization recognized under certain federal law with an educational purpose that promotes patriotism and civic involvement, with the opportunity to speak to students during regular school hours about membership in the society and the ways in which membership may promote a student's educational interest and level of civic involvement. The bill grants the principal complete discretion over the specific date and time of such an opportunity, except that the principal must limit the provided opportunity to a single school day and any presentation made to students as a result of the opportunity may not exceed 10 minutes. 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.