BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 391

By: Blanco

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted with concern that many public school students do not have the technology necessary to access instructional materials provided electronically by their schools. H.B. 391 would require public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools, on parental request, to provide instructional materials in printed book format to a student who lacks reliable access to technology at the student's home.

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

ANALYSIS

H.B. 391 amends the Education Code to require a public school district or open-enrollment charter school, on request by a student's parent to allow the student to take home any instructional materials used by the student, to provide those materials to the student in printed book format if the student does not have reliable access to technology at home. The bill requires a district or charter school to document each parental request to allow the student to take home any instructional materials that the district or school denies and to include in the documentation each reason for denying the request. The bill 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. The bill requires TEA to submit to the legislature, not later than September 1 of each year, an annual report that includes the number of such parental requests denied by each district and charter school and the reasons for denial. The bill applies beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.