BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 746

By: Miles

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many public school districts have been unable to keep track of every enrolled student. Reports indicate that up to 75 percent of districts across Texas saw a decrease in enrollment during the 2020-2021 school year. Because attendance and enrollment affect the amount of funding each school receives, districts need to have accurate information to provide to the state. Districts are in need of a required line of contact with each student and their parent so that children do not fall through the cracks and so that funding is accurately allocated to each school. S.B. 746 seeks to ensure that each district receives accurate and up-to-date contact information for the parents of each student enrolled in the district.

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. 746 amends the Education Code to require the parent of a student enrolled in a public school district to provide in writing to the district, on the student's enrollment in the district and not later than two weeks after the beginning of each school year, the parent's address, phone number, and email address. If a parent's contact information changes during the school year, the parent must provide their updated information to the district in writing not later than two weeks after the date the information changes. The bill 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.