BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 314

By: Howard

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that parenthood is a leading reason for teens dropping out of school and  that, while the compensatory education allotment may support students who are educationally disadvantaged and at risk of dropping out, including students who are pregnant or are parents, it would be beneficial if allotment funds could be used to cover the costs of child-care services and related child-care expenses. H.B. 314 seeks to address this issue by authorizing these funds to be used to provide child-care services or related assistance to certain at-risk students who are pregnant or are parents.

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

H.B. 314 amends the Education Code to authorize funds allocated for the compensatory education allotment to be used for the following:

· to provide child-care services or assistance with child-care expenses for a student at risk of dropping out of school because the student is under 26 years of age and is either pregnant or a parent; or

· to pay the costs associated with services provided through a life skills program for students who are pregnant or are parents, other than career counseling and job readiness training services.

The bill requires the commissioner of education, not later than January 1, 2020, to adopt rules requiring the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) to include pregnancy as a reason a student withdraws from or otherwise no longer attends public school.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.