Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB72 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	84R642 EAH-D
2	2	By: Ellis S.B. No. 72
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the availability of free prekindergarten programs in
8	8	public schools.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Sections 29.153(a-1), (b), and (f), Education
11	11	Code, are amended to read as follows:
12	12	(a-1) A district shall offer prekindergarten classes if the
13	13	district identifies 15 or more children who are [eligible under
14	14	Subsection (b) and are] at least four years of age. A school
15	15	district may offer prekindergarten classes if the district
16	16	identifies 15 or more [eligible] children who are eligible under
17	17	Subsection (b)(1) [at least three years of age]. A district may not
18	18	charge tuition for a prekindergarten class offered under this
19	19	section.
20	20	(b) A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten
21	21	class under this section if the child is:
22	22	(1) at least three years of age and:
23	23	(A) [(1)] is unable to speak and comprehend the
24	24	English language;
25	25	(B) [(2)] is educationally disadvantaged;
26	26	(C) [(3)] is a homeless child, as defined by 42
27	27	U.S.C. Section 11434a, regardless of the residence of the child, of
28	28	either parent of the child, or of the child's guardian or other
29	29	person having lawful control of the child;
30	30	(D) [(4)] is the child of an active duty member
31	31	of the armed forces of the United States, including the state
32	32	military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who is
33	33	ordered to active duty by proper authority;
34	34	(E) [(5)] is the child of a member of the armed
35	35	forces of the United States, including the state military forces or
36	36	a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed
37	37	while serving on active duty; or
38	38	(F) [(6)] is or ever has been in the
39	39	conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services
40	40	following an adversary hearing held as provided by Section 262.201,
41	41	Family Code; or
42	42	(2) at least four years of age.
43	43	(f) A child who is eligible for enrollment in a
44	44	prekindergarten class under Subsection (b)(1)(D) or (E) [(b)(4) or
45	45	(5)] remains eligible for enrollment if the child's parent leaves
46	46	the armed forces, or is no longer on active duty, after the child
47	47	begins a prekindergarten class.
48	48	SECTION 2. Section 29.1532(c), Education Code, is amended
49	49	to read as follows:
50	50	(c) A school district that offers prekindergarten classes
51	51	shall include the following information in the district's Public
52	52	Education Information Management System (PEIMS) report:
53	53	(1) demographic information, as determined by the
54	54	commissioner, on students enrolled in district prekindergarten
55	55	classes, including the number of students who are eligible for
56	56	classes under Section 29.153(b)(1) or (f) [29.153];
57	57	(2) the numbers of half-day and full-day
58	58	prekindergarten classes offered by the district; and
59	59	(3) the sources of funding for the prekindergarten
60	60	classes.
61	61	SECTION 3. Section 29.153(d), Education Code, is repealed.
62	62	SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
63	63	school year.
64	64	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect August 1, 2019.