BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3400

By: Paddie

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that a parent who is a peace officer and fears for their child's safety should be allowed to request a transfer of the student to another campus or public school district and that the district at which the student is enrolled should grant these transfer requests. H.B. 3400 seeks to provide for this transfer.

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. 3400 amends the Education Code to require the board of trustees of a public school district or the board's designee, on request of a peace officer who is a parent of or a person standing in parental relation to a student and who reasonably fears for the student's safety, to transfer the student to another district campus or to another district under an agreement prescribed by statutory provisions governing the transfer of students between districts or counties. A transfer must be to a campus or district, as applicable, agreeable to the peace officer making the request. The bill establishes a district is not required to provide transportation to a student who transfers to another campus or district under the bill's provisions.

H.B. 3400 applies beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.