85R21769 MM-D
By: Allen, Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 2623
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2623:
By: Bernal C.S.H.B. No. 2623
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring school districts and certain facilities 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 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 and facility listed under
Subsection (a) shall coordinate to assist a student enrolled in the
district in making the transition back to school after being in the
facility for a period equivalent to 30 instructional days or more
during the school year. The assistance provided by the district and
the facility 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, including at
least one teacher, and an appropriate supervisor employed by the
facility in which the student was placed shall designate one or more
appropriate facility employees to coordinate in developing 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, as available, 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, as available.
(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 to the school district in
which the student intends to attend school following release
written notice of that date and that the facility is prepared to
begin coordinating with the district to develop the student's
personalized transition service plan under Subsection (b). This
subsection applies only to a student subject to compulsory
attendance requirements under Section 25.085.
(d) The agency shall give annual written notice to each
facility listed under Subsection (a) of the facility's duty under
this section.
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.