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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of the children of certain essential |
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employees for free prekindergarten programs in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 29.153(b) and (f), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten |
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class under this section if the child is at least three years of age |
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and: |
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(1) is unable to speak and comprehend the English |
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language; |
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(2) is educationally disadvantaged; |
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(3) is homeless, regardless of the residence of the |
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child, of either parent of the child, or of the child's guardian or |
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other person having lawful control of the child; |
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(4) is the child of an active duty member of the armed |
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forces of the United States, including the state military forces or |
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a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active |
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duty by proper authority; |
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(5) is the child of a member of the armed forces of the |
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United States, including the state military forces or a reserve |
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component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while |
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serving on active duty; |
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(6) is or ever has been in the conservatorship of the |
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Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary |
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hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code; [or] |
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(7) is the child of a person eligible for the Star of |
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Texas Award as: |
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(A) a peace officer under Section 3106.002, |
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Government Code; |
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(B) a firefighter under Section 3106.003, |
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Government Code; or |
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(C) an emergency medical first responder under |
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Section 3106.004, Government Code; or |
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(8) is the child of a person who is employed by a state |
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or local governmental entity or a private business entity in a |
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position determined by the agency to be essential to the response to |
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or recovery from an event declared to be a disaster by the president |
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of the United States under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief |
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and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.) or the |
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governor under Chapter 418, Government Code. |
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(f) A child who is eligible for enrollment in a |
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prekindergarten class under Subsection (b)(4), [or] (5), or (8) |
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remains eligible for enrollment after the child begins a |
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prekindergarten class if, as applicable: |
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(1) the child's parent: |
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(A) leaves the armed forces; or |
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(B) [, or] is no longer on active duty; or |
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(2) the declaration of disaster under Subsection |
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(b)(8) expires or the state or local governmental entity or private |
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business entity in which the child's parent is employed is |
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determined to no longer be essential to the response to or recovery |
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from the disaster [, after the child begins a prekindergarten |
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class]. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |