BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2892
88R21717 BDP-D	By: Buckley (Middleton)
	Education
	5/9/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Military servicemembers and their families must often move to new stations while serving our country and state. Students in these families must adapt to new school cultures and curricula. In order to recognize Texas school districts and charter schools that show their support and commitment to meeting the unique needs of military-connected students and their families, the 86th Texas Legislature passed S.B. 1557, creating the Purple Star Campus designation. H.B. 2892 seeks to allow a parent or legal guardian to transfer a student to the school district and campus of their choice, such as to these designated campuses.

H.B. 2892 amends the Education Code to require the board of trustees of a public school district or the board's designee, on request of a servicemember 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 eligible district. The transfer must be to the campus or district selected by the servicemember. A district is not required to provide transportation to a student who transfers to another campus or district. The bill defines "servicemember" as an active duty member of the U.S. armed forces, a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces, or the Texas National Guard. H.B. 2892 applies beginning with the 2023�2024 school year.

H.B. 2892 amends current law relating to the transfer of certain public school students who are children of certain military servicemembers.

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 SERVICEMEMBERS. (a) Defines "servicemember."

(b) Requires the board of trustees of a school district or the board's designee, on request of a servicemember 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 servicemember 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.