HBA-SEB H.B. 291 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 291
By: Wise
Public Education
4/19/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, this state mandates a curriculum for school districts that offer
kindergarten through grade 12.  Child safety issues do not appear in the
curriculum.  Educating children on methods of selfprotection may reduce
crimes against children.  H.B. 291 includes instruction on child safety
issues as part of the required curriculum, falling under the subject area
of health. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 28.002(a), Education Code, to require school
districts that offer kindergarten through grade 12 to provide to the
students specific instruction concerning child safety issues, including
methods of self-protection against abuse or abduction, as a part of the
required health curriculum. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act will apply beginning with the 1999-2000
school year. 

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