89R25244 RDR-F

By: Lowe H.B. No. 5381

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 5381:

By: Buckley C.S.H.B. No. 5381

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the interstate compact on educational opportunity for military children and other protections for certain military dependents enrolled in a public school.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Rocky's Law.

SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 25, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 25.906 to read as follows:

Sec. 25.906. PROTECTIONS FOR CERTAIN MILITARY DEPENDENTS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Compact" means the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children executed under Section 162.002.

(2) "Uniformed services" means:

(A) the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, National Guard and Reserve, or Coast Guard;

(B) the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; or

(C) the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service.

(b) The provisions of Articles IV, V, VI, and VII of the compact apply to the following children as if those children were children described by Article III of the compact:

(1) a child of a veteran of the uniformed services who was discharged or released through retirement, for a period of four years after the date of the veteran's retirement, if the veteran returns to the veteran's home of record on military orders; and

(2) a child of a member of the uniformed services who dies on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active duty, for a period of four years after the member's death.

(c) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school that maintains an Internet website shall post on the district's or school's Internet website home page an easily accessible link entitled "MIC3" that leads to information regarding the compact and the additional protections provided by this section.

(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that enrolls a child of a member of the uniformed services shall comply with all applicable provisions relating to persons not eligible for employment in public schools under Chapters 21 and 22.

SECTION 3. Article II(A), Section 162.002, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

A. "Active duty" means: full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Chapters [Sections] 1209 and 1211.

SECTION 4. Section 162.006(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The State Advisory Council consists of:

(1) the commissioner of education or the commissioner's designee;

(2) a superintendent of a school district with a high concentration of military children designated by the agency;

(3) the governor or the governor's designee;

(4) the chair of the senate committee on education or the chair's designee;

(5) the chair of the house of representatives committee on public education or the chair's designee;

(6) a representative from each branch of the armed services of the United States that maintains an installation in the state, appointed by each respective branch; [and]

(7) a classroom teacher who is or was employed at a school operated by the United States Department of Defense Education Activity designated by the agency; and

(8) representatives of other offices and stakeholder groups the agency deems appropriate.

SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.