BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1959
88R7452 BDP-D	By: Noble et al. (King)
	Education
	5/9/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Peace officers put themselves in harm's way in their communities on a daily basis. Peace officers with school-aged children should be assured that their child is in a safe environment when attending school. H.B. 1959 seeks to ensure this is the case by providing for a peace officer who is a parent of or a person standing in parental relation to a student to transfer that student to another school district or campus of their choosing.

H.B. 1959 amends current law relating to the transfer of certain public school students who are children of peace officers.

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 Subchapter B, Chapter 25, Education Code, by adding Section 25.0344, as follows:

Sec. 25.0344. TRANSFER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE CHILDREN OF PEACE OFFICERS. (a) Defines "peace officer."

(b) Requires the board of trustees of a school district or the board's designee, on request of a peace officer who is a parent of or person standing in parental relation to a student, to transfer the student to another district campus or to another school district under an agreement under Section 25.035 (Transfers Between Districts or Counties).

(c) Requires that a transfer under this section be to the campus or school district, as applicable, selected by the peace officer making the request.

(d) Provides that a school district is not required to provide transportation to a student who transfers to another campus or school district under this section.

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2023�2024 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.