HBA-CBW S.B. 704 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 704 By: West, Royce Public Education 4/30/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law makes a narrow distinction between a school uniform requirement and a standardized dress code. If a school district adopts a school uniform, the school board must designate a source of funding to be used in providing uniforms for students who are educationally disadvantaged. However, if a school district adopts a standardized dress code, it is not required to provide clothing to educationally disadvantaged students. Senate Bill 704 provides that an independent school district may discipline an educationally disadvantaged student for a violation of the district's standardized dress code only if the district ensures that the student or the student's parent can obtain proper clothing without cost to the student or the student's parent. 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 Senate Bill 704 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of trustees of an independent school district (district) to adopt a standardized student dress code to improve the learning environment in the district or to maintain order in the district. The bill authorizes a district to discipline an educationally disadvantaged student for violating the standardized dress code only if the district ensures that the student or the student's parent can obtain clothing that complies with the standardized dress code without cost to the student or the student's parent. The bill authorizes the district to provide clothing at district expense or to arrange for a local public or private organization to provide or pay for clothing. The bill provides that a decision by a board of trustees concerning the reasonableness of restrictions on student dress or a parent's financial inability to purchase clothing that complies with the standardized district dress code is final and may not be appealed to the commissioner of education. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.