BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 391
86R2561 MEW-F	By: Blanco; Guillen (Zaffirini)
	Education
	5/8/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Because electronic materials are often available for use outside of the classroom, many school districts and open-enrollment charter schools across Texas do not allow students to take their textbooks home. Many economically disadvantaged students, however, do not have access to the Internet at home or the devices necessary to view these electronic materials.

H.B. 391 would require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide printed book materials for students who have limited or no access to the internet in their home.

H.B. 391 amends current law relating to student access to public school instructional materials and technology.

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 26.006, Education Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (d) and (e), as follows:

(c) Requires a school district or open-enrollment charter school to provide certain instructional materials that the student, on the student's parent's request, takes home, in printed book format if the student does not have reliable access to technology at the student's home.

(d) Requires a school district or open-enrollment charter school to document each parental request made under Subsection (c) to allow a student to take home instructional material used by the student that the district or school denies. Requires the documentation to include each reason for denying the request. Requires the district or school, not later than the 30th day after the date the district or school receives the request, to report to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) that the request has been denied and each reason for the denial.

(e) Requires TEA, not later than September 1 of each year, to submit an annual report to the legislature that includes the number of parental requests made under Subsection (c) to allow a student to take home instructional material used by the student that each school district and open-enrollment charter school denied and the reasons for denial.

SECTION 2. Provides that application of Section 26.006, Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies beginning with the 2019�2020 school year.

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