83R9023 CAS-D
By: Allen H.B. No. 3003
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to school district programs to assist students in making
the transition back to school after certain prolonged placements
outside of school.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.921 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.921. PROGRAM TO ASSIST STUDENT TRANSITION BACK TO
SCHOOL AFTER PROLONGED PLACEMENT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. (a) This
section applies to the following facilities:
(1) a disciplinary alternative education program;
(2) a juvenile justice alternative education program;
(3) a residential program or facility operated by or
under contract with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, a
juvenile board, or any other governmental entity;
(4) any residential treatment center; and
(5) a public or private hospital.
(b) Each school district shall establish and provide a
program to assist district students in making the transition back
to school after being in a facility listed under Subsection (a) for
a period equivalent to 30 instructional days or more during the
school year. The program must include development and
implementation of a personalized transition service plan for each
student who has been absent from school as described by this
subsection. The principal of the school the student attends
following the absence shall designate one or more appropriate
school employees to develop the plan. To the greatest extent
practicable, the plan must be developed in consultation with the
student and the student's parent or person standing in parental
relation to the student. To the extent appropriate for a particular
student, the plan must include:
(1) consideration of the best educational placement
for the student;
(2) provision of counseling, behavioral management
assistance, or academic assistance by the school based on
considerations described by Subsection (c) and the student's
academic, school reentry, and career and employment goals; and
(3) assistance concerning access to community mental
health or substance abuse services.
(c) A transition service plan under Subsection (b) must, to
the greatest extent practicable, take into consideration any
relevant aspect of the student's medical or psychological condition
and any education or medical or other treatment the student has
received while at a facility listed under Subsection (a). A school
employee shall request the parental consent necessary to obtain
information for purposes of this subsection.
(d) As soon as a facility listed under Subsection (a) has
determined the date of a student's release from the facility, the
facility shall give notice of that date to the school district in
which a student intends to attend school following release. The
agency shall give annual written notice to each facility of the
facility's duty under this subsection. This subsection applies
only to a student subject to compulsory attendance requirements
under Section 25.085.
SECTION 2. This Act applies to absences from public school
beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.
SECTION 3. 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, 2013.