HBA-MPM, CCH H.B. 1960 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1960 By: Shields Public Education 4/2/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Children spend a significant amount of their day in the classroom, and the lessons they learn there may help shape the way in which they make decisions for the rest of their lives. Character education curriculum introduces children to the character traits important for participation in a civil society, including honesty, responsibility, respect, initiative, and compassion, and may complement the guidance of a child's parents. More schools and school districts might be encouraged to implement such a curriculum if they were given official recognition for their efforts. House Bill 1960 includes the percentage of schools in a school district with a character education program among the academic excellence indicators. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 1960 amends the Education Code to provide that the State Board of Education's academic excellence indicators must include the percentage of schools in the school district that offer a character education program. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.