Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1553 by Menéndez (Relating to certain requirements imposed on a sex offender who enters the premises of a school and to the refusal of entry to or ejection from school district property.), Conference Committee Report
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Education Code to require school districts to include in their student code of conduct and post on their websites certain information related to refusal of entry or ejection from school property. The bill would add requirements related to refusal of entry or ejection from school property, and would require the Commissioner of Education to adopt rules to implement the requirements, including rules for appeal processes related to a school district's decision to refuse entry or eject a person from school district property.
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require a registered sex offender to notify school administration of their presence at the school and their status as a sex offender unless the person is an enrolled student or a student participating in events at the school.
The Texas Education Agency indicates that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
Except as otherwise provided by the bill, the bill would take effect immediately if passed within the necessary voting margins, or September 1, 2017, and would apply beginning with the 2017-18 school year.
Local Government Impact
School districts may incur costs to adopt and post new policies and procedures and handle certain appeals. Costs may vary depending on existing policies and procedures, but in most cases, will be nominal.