Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4112 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R14327 MM-D
2	2	By: Martinez Fischer H.B. No. 4112
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 homeless, regardless of the
27	27	residence of the child, of either parent of the child, or of the
28	28	child's guardian or other person having lawful control of the
29	29	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;
38	38	(F) [(6)] is or ever has been in:
39	39	(i) [(A)] the conservatorship of the
40	40	Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary
41	41	hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code; or
42	42	(ii) [(B)] foster care in another state or
43	43	territory, if the child resides in this state; or
44	44	(G) [(7)] is the child of a person eligible for
45	45	the Star of Texas Award as:
46	46	(i) [(A)] a peace officer under Section
47	47	3106.002, Government Code;
48	48	(ii) [(B)] a firefighter under Section
49	49	3106.003, Government Code; or
50	50	(iii) [(C)] an emergency medical first
51	51	responder under Section 3106.004, Government Code; or
52	52	(2) at least four years of age.
53	53	(f) A child who is eligible for enrollment in a
54	54	prekindergarten class under Subsection (b)(1)(D) or (E) [(b)(4) or
55	55	(5)] remains eligible for enrollment if the child's parent leaves
56	56	the armed forces, or is no longer on active duty, after the child
57	57	begins a prekindergarten class.
58	58	SECTION 2. Section 29.1532(c), Education Code, is amended
59	59	to read as follows:
60	60	(c) A school district that offers prekindergarten classes
61	61	shall include the following information in the district's Public
62	62	Education Information Management System (PEIMS) report:
63	63	(1) demographic information, as determined by the
64	64	commissioner, on students enrolled in district and campus
65	65	prekindergarten classes, including the number of students who are
66	66	eligible for classes under Section 29.153(b)(1) or (f) [29.153];
67	67	(2) the numbers of half-day and full-day
68	68	prekindergarten classes offered by the district and campus;
69	69	(3) the number of half-day prekindergarten classes for
70	70	which the district has received an exemption from full-day
71	71	operation under Section 29.153(d);
72	72	(4) the sources of funding for the prekindergarten
73	73	classes;
74	74	(5) the class size and ratio of instructional staff to
75	75	students for each prekindergarten program class offered by the
76	76	district and campus;
77	77	(6) if the district elects to administer an
78	78	assessment instrument under Section 29.169 to students enrolled in
79	79	district and campus prekindergarten program classes, a description
80	80	and the results of each type of assessment instrument; and
81	81	(7) curricula used in the district's prekindergarten
82	82	program classes.
83	83	SECTION 3. Section 29.153(e-1), Education Code, is
84	84	repealed.
85	85	SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
86	86	school year.
87	87	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
88	88	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
89	89	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
90	90	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
91	91	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.