81R710 PAM-D By: Dutton H.B. No. 943 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to disciplinary actions imposed on public school students who disrupt the conduct of class or other school activities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 37.0052 to read as follows: Sec. 37.0052. SUSPENSION OF STUDENT FOR DISRUPTION OF CLASSES IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. (a) In this section: (1) "Disrupting the conduct of classes or other school activities," "public property," and "school property" have the meanings assigned by Section 37.124(c). (2) "Student" means any person who is registered in or in attendance at a public school. (b) A principal may place a student into in-school suspension if the student, on school property or on public property within 500 feet of school property, alone or in concert with others, intentionally disrupts the conduct of classes or other school activities. (c) A suspension under this section may not exceed three school days. SECTION 2. Section 37.124(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A person other than a student commits an offense if the person, on school property or on public property within 500 feet of school property, alone or in concert with others, intentionally disrupts the conduct of classes or other school activities. SECTION 3. Section 37.124(c), Education Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows: (4) "Student" has the meaning assigned by Section 37.0052. SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. SECTION 5. (a) The change in law made by Section 37.124(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs before that date. (b) An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.