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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to enrolling a public school student in a virtual |
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education program as an alternative to expulsion. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 37.0071 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.0071. VIRTUAL EDUCATION AS ALTERNATIVE TO |
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EXPULSION. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), before a |
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school district or open-enrollment charter school may expel a |
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student, the district or school shall consider as an alternative to |
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expulsion the appropriateness and feasibility of enrolling the |
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student in a full-time virtual education program through the state |
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virtual school network under Chapter 30A or another virtual |
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education program authorized by this code. |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a student expelled |
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under Section 37.0081 or 37.007(a), (d), or (e). |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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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, 2023. |