88R9056 TSS-F
 
  By: Buckley H.B. No. 3917
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to dismissal of a complaint alleging a parent contributing
  to nonattendance on the parent's fulfillment of certain terms.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 45.0531, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 45.0531.  DISMISSAL OF PARENT CONTRIBUTING TO
  NONATTENDANCE CHARGE. (a) Subject to Subsection (b) and
  notwithstanding [Notwithstanding] any other law, a county,
  justice, or municipal court, at the court's discretion, may dismiss
  a charge against a defendant alleging the defendant committed an
  offense under Section 25.093, Education Code, if the court finds
  that a dismissal would be in the interest of justice because:
               (1)  there is a low likelihood of recidivism by the
  defendant; or
               (2)  sufficient justification exists for the failure to
  attend school.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a county, justice, or
  municipal court shall dismiss a charge against a defendant alleging
  the defendant committed an offense under Section 25.093, Education
  Code, if the parent completes the terms of an agreement entered into
  by the parent and the school district at which the parent's child
  attends under Section 25.094, Education Code, within the period
  required by Subsection (b) of that section. If agreed to by the
  school district that is a party to the agreement, the court may
  extend the period under Section 25.094(b), Education Code, during
  which a parent may fulfill the terms of the agreement.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 25.094 to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.094.  AGREEMENT FOR DISMISSAL OF PARENT CONTRIBUTING
  TO NONATTENDANCE CHARGE. (a) A parent against whom a complaint
  under Section 25.093 has been filed and the school district at which
  the parent's child is enrolled may enter into a written agreement
  requiring the parent to complete counseling, training, or another
  program as designated by the school district.
         (b)  A parent who fulfills the terms of an agreement
  described by Subsection (a) not later than the 30th day after the
  date on which the complaint was filed or within the period provided
  by the agreement is entitled to dismissal of the complaint in
  accordance with Article 45.0531(b), Code of Criminal Procedure.
         (c)  The agency may adopt rules and materials necessary to
  implement this section, including by:
               (1)  making standardized agreement forms available to
  school districts;
               (2)  recommending state and local counseling,
  training, or other program options that a school district may
  require in an agreement under this section, which may include:
                     (A)  faith-based counseling or training programs;
  or
                     (B)  other programs that provide instruction
  designed to assist a parent in identifying problems that contribute
  to unexcused absences by the parent's child and in developing
  strategies for resolving those problems; and
               (3)  requiring relevant programs, resources, and
  materials to be made available through regional educational service
  centers.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.