HBA-JRA H.B. 531 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 531
By: Madden
Public Education
3/21/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a school district that enrolls a home-schooled student as a
part-time public school student does not receive any state funding for that
student.  H.B. 531 entitles such a school district to a portion of the
total amount of state funding the district receives for a regularly
enrolled student. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the State Board of Education in SECTION
1 (Section 25.005, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 25, Education Code, by adding
Section 25.005, as follows: 

Sec. 25.005.  PART-TIME ENROLLMENT OF HOME-SCHOOL STUDENT.  Authorizes a
home-schooled child, entitled to attend public school in a school district
under Section 25.001 (Admission), to enroll in public school in the
district as a part-time student, if the district and the child's parent or
guardian agree in writing.  Authorizes a part-time student to participate
in an academic class on the same basis as a regularly enrolled student.
Prohibits a school district from charging a part-time student tuition, but
requires the district to charge the student all applicable fees charged a
regularly enrolled student.  Provides that a school district that enrolls a
part-time student is entitled to receive a portion of the total amount of
state funding the district receives for a regularly enrolled student.
Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules as necessary,
including rules that provide for state funding proportionate to a student's
participation in the public school program, to implement this section. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective to the 1999-2000
school year. 

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