BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 784 89R5485 CMO-D By: King Education K-16 4/22/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Peace officers' children can become targets of bullying and harassment due to the nature of their parents' work. Last session, to help address this issue, the legislature passed H.B. 1959 allowing peace officers' children to transfer from one public school to another public school. The bill was intended to help ensure peace officers' children attend school in a safe environment, at the public school of their choice. Unfortunately, some school districts across the state have refused to accept the transfers of peace officers' children despite the passage of H.B. 1959 (88R). School districts have cited various loopholes in the new law as reasons for refusing to accept these transfers. S.B. 784 clarifies that both the sending district and the receiving district must approve the transfer of a peace officer's child, notwithstanding any other law. The bill further specifies that districts of innovation are not exempt from this requirement. As proposed, S.B. 784 amends current law relating to the transfer of certain public school students who are children of peace officers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, to prohibit a local innovation plan from providing for the exemption of a district designated as a district of innovation from certain provisions of Title 2 (Public Education), including transfers of students who are the children of peace officers under Section 25.0344 (Transfer of Students Who are Children of Peace Officers), and to make nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.0344, Education Code, as added by Chapter 322 (H.B. 1959), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (e) and (f), as follows: (b) Requires the board of trustees of a school district or the board's designee, on request of a peace officer who is a parent of or person standing in parental relation to a student, to transfer the student to another district campus or to any other school district in this state, regardless of whether the sending district and receiving district have entered into, rather than to another school district under, an agreement under Section 25.035 (Transfers Between Districts or Counties). (e) Requires both the sending district and the receiving district, notwithstanding any other law, to approve a transfer under this section without exception. (f) Prohibits a school district from charging a tuition fee under Section 25.038 (Tuition Fee for Transfer Students) to a student who transfers to the district under this section. SECTION 3. Makes application of Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act, prospective. SECTION 4. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 20252026 school year. SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 784
89R5485 CMO-D By: King
Education K-16
4/22/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 784
89R5485 CMO-D
By: King
Education K-16
4/22/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Peace officers' children can become targets of bullying and harassment due to the nature of their parents' work. Last session, to help address this issue, the legislature passed H.B. 1959 allowing peace officers' children to transfer from one public school to another public school. The bill was intended to help ensure peace officers' children attend school in a safe environment, at the public school of their choice.
Unfortunately, some school districts across the state have refused to accept the transfers of peace officers' children despite the passage of H.B. 1959 (88R). School districts have cited various loopholes in the new law as reasons for refusing to accept these transfers.
S.B. 784 clarifies that both the sending district and the receiving district must approve the transfer of a peace officer's child, notwithstanding any other law. The bill further specifies that districts of innovation are not exempt from this requirement.
As proposed, S.B. 784 amends current law relating to the transfer of certain public school students who are children of peace officers.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, to prohibit a local innovation plan from providing for the exemption of a district designated as a district of innovation from certain provisions of Title 2 (Public Education), including transfers of students who are the children of peace officers under Section 25.0344 (Transfer of Students Who are Children of Peace Officers), and to make nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 25.0344, Education Code, as added by Chapter 322 (H.B. 1959), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (e) and (f), as follows:
(b) Requires the board of trustees of a school district or the board's designee, on request of a peace officer who is a parent of or person standing in parental relation to a student, to transfer the student to another district campus or to any other school district in this state, regardless of whether the sending district and receiving district have entered into, rather than to another school district under, an agreement under Section 25.035 (Transfers Between Districts or Counties).
(e) Requires both the sending district and the receiving district, notwithstanding any other law, to approve a transfer under this section without exception.
(f) Prohibits a school district from charging a tuition fee under Section 25.038 (Tuition Fee for Transfer Students) to a student who transfers to the district under this section.
SECTION 3. Makes application of Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act, prospective.
SECTION 4. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 20252026 school year.
SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.