BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 811

By: White

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that homeless youth and fostered children experience unique barriers to success in the classroom and are disciplined at disproportionate rates compared to their peers. H.B. 811 seeks to address this issue by requiring independent school districts to consider a student’s status as a foster or homeless youth when considering appropriate disciplinary measures for such students.

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. 811 amends the Education Code to require a student code of conduct adopted by an independent school district to include a student's status in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services and a student's status as a student who is homeless, as defined by reference to federal law, among the specified factors for which consideration will be given in each decision concerning suspension, removal to a disciplinary alternative education program, expulsion, or placement in a juvenile justice alternative education program. The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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