HBA-MPM H.B. 1738 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1738
By: Wilson
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, human rights issues are not a part of the required enrichment
curriculum taught to students in public school.  H.B. 1738 adds human
rights issues to the required enrichment curriculum of each school district
offering kindergarten through grade 12 and provides that rules made by the
State Board of Education regarding a well-balanced curriculum must require
that a district that offers grade six or above offer instruction in human
rights issues. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority previously delegated to the State Board of Education is both
modified and expressly delegated in SECTION 1 (Section 28.002, Education
Code) and expressly delegated SECTION 2 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 28.002(a), (b) and (d), Education Code, to add
human rights issues, with particular attention to certain subject matter,
to the required enrichment curriculum of each school district (district)
that offers kindergarten through grade 12.  Provides that rules made by the
State Board of Education (board) regarding a well-balanced curriculum must
require that a district that offers grade six or above offer instruction in
human rights issues, with particular attention to certain subject matter.
Requires the board, by rule, to mandate each district to offer this
instruction at the sixth grade level or above. 

SECTION 2.  Makes this Act applicable beginning with the 2000-2001 school
year.  Requires the board to adopt rules for its implementation no later
than January 1, 2000. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.