BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1679

By: West

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been reported that a requirement to demonstrate a child's eligibility for free prekindergarten classes in a succeeding year if the child was enrolled at age three may be confusing to parents and may lead to eligible children not being reenrolled. S.B. 1679 seeks to ensure that an eligible child who enrolls at age three remains eligible for the following school year.

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

S.B. 1679 amends the Education Code to establish that a child who is eligible for enrollment at the age of three in a free prekindergarten class offered to children who meet certain conditions and who enrolls in such a class at three years of age remains eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten class for the following school year. 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.