85R4600 MM-D
By: Allen H.B. No. 2623
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring school districts 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 25, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 25.903 to read as follows:
Sec. 25.903. ASSISTANCE FOR A STUDENT TRANSITIONING 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 assist a student enrolled in
the district 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 assistance
provided by the district 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 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) As soon as practicable after 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 2017-2018 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, 2017.