BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 330
	By: VanDeaver; Guillen (Hughes)
	Education
	5/8/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Section 39.053(g-1) of the Education Code excludes certain students from the computation of dropout and completion rates such as high school graduation. Most of this list is comprised of students having certain types of academic or legal difficulties in advancing toward completion of high school. Students who suffer a traumatic injury or debilitating illness must still be included in the computation of dropout and important completion rates, however, even though they are unable to attend school due to health difficulties. 

H.B. 330 would add a seventh exemption in the Education Code when calculating dropout and certain completion rates: students who are unable to attend school due to a condition, injury, or illness that requires substantial medical care. This legislation protects students struggling with significant health difficulties from being labeled as a dropout. It also protects the accountability ratings of school districts who lose students to debilitating health conditions. 

H.B. 330 amends current law relating to excluding certain students from the computation of dropout and completion rates for purposes of public school accountability.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 39.053(g-1), Education Code, as follows:

(g-1) Requires the commissioner of education, in computing dropout and completion rates such as high school graduation rates under Subsection (c)(1)(B)(ix), to exclude:

(1)�(4) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(5)�(6) makes nonsubstantive changes to these subdivisions;

(7) students who have suffered a condition, injury, or illness that requires substantial medical care and leaves the student:

(A) unable to attend school; and

(B) assigned to a medical or residential treatment facility.

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2019�2020 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.