HBA-DMD H.B. 335 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 335 By: Seaman Public Education 4/21/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, school districts are allowed to offer prekindergarten classes. The Early Childhood Development Center on the campus of Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi (university) provides a facility that a local school district could benefit from if the school district and university were allowed to contract for the purpose of offering prekindergarten classes. H.B. 335 authorizes the university to operate a prekindergarten program under a contract with a school district in the same region. This bill provides that the program is considered to be an educational program of the school district in the same manner as any other prekindergarten program. This bill also sets forth that any child who meets certain age requirements is eligible for enrollment in the prekindergarten program. It authorizes the university to operate a prekindergarten program on a full-day basis with approval of the school district. 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 Subchapter E, Chapter 87, Education Code, by adding Section 87.403, as follows: Sec. 87.403. EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER. Authorizes Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi (university), in connection with its instructional and research programs, to operate a prekindergarten program under a contract with a school district in the same region. Provides that the program is considered to be an educational program of the school district in the same manner as any other prekindergarten program established under Section 29.153 (Prekindergarten). Sets forth that any child who meets the age requirements of Section 29.153 is eligible for enrollment in the prekindergarten program, notwithstanding provisions in Section 29.153(b) (which state that a three-year-old is eligible for enrollment in prekindergarten if unable to speak and comprehend English, if educationally disadvantaged, or if homeless). Authorizes the university to operate a prekindergarten program on a full-day basis with approval of the school district, notwithstanding Section 29.153(c) (requiring the program to be operated on a half-day basis). SECTION 2.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.