BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2526
86R3243 SOS-D	By: Leach (Fallon)
	Education
	5/17/2019
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law states that a school district shall admit an eligible person into their public schools if the person and either parent of the person reside in the school district. The word "reside" has not been formally defined by law, but over time it has been interpreted as the physical "residence" in which the person lives. While this law adequately provides districting regulations for some Texans, another population of people live on property which is divided by multiple school district boundaries. Current law requires that these people attend the school district in which their physical home lies, and does not give them the option to choose to attend a school district in which any part of the rest of their property lies. 

 

H.B. 2526 would require school districts to admit eligible students into their public schools if the person and either parent of the person reside in a residence homestead that is located on a parcel of property, any part of which is located in a school district. This would allow a person whose property is split by multiple boundaries and pays property taxes to more than one school district to choose which school district to attend. For example, a person may choose to attend a school district in which their physical home is not located, but another part of their property that their residence is on is. This bill would grant Texans more say in which public schools their children attend.

 

H.B. 2526 amends current law relating to criteria for admission of certain students into public schools.

 

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 25.001(b), Education Code, to require the board of trustees of a school district or its designee to admit into the public schools of the district free of tuition a person who meets certain age requirements, and to authorize the board to admit a person who meets certain age requirements for the purpose of completing the requirements of a high school diploma in certain circumstances, including if the person and either parent of the person reside in a residence homestead, as defined by Section 11.13(j) (relating to the definition of residence homestead), Tax Code, that is located on a parcel of property any part of which is located in the school district.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.