BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 2188

By: Taylor, Larry

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

According to interested parties, public schools do not receive sufficient funding for students 18 years of age or older who have met graduation credit requirements and are in an off home campus instructional arrangement but receive certain contact hours of instruction per week. S.B. 2188 seeks to address this issue by including these students in the average daily attendance calculation with regard to the special education allotment.

 

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

S.B. 2188 amends the Education Code to establish that, for the purposes of the special education allotment, a student who is 18 years of age or older who has met graduation credit requirements and is in an off home campus instructional arrangement is a full-time equivalent student if the student receives 20 hours of contact a week and that such a student is a part-time equivalent student if the student receives 10 hours or more but less than 20 hours of contact a week. The bill authorizes the commissioner of education to adopt rules necessary to administer the bill's provisions. The bill requires the commissioner to implement the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose and otherwise authorizes, but expressly does not require, the commissioner to implement the bill using other available appropriations. The bill applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

91st day after the last day of the legislative session.